Barcelona summer signing yet to prove himself against Europe’s biggest clubs despite recent resurgence

Barcelona summer signing yet to prove himself against Europe’s biggest clubs despite recent resurgence Anthony Gordon will look to extend his remarkable international scoring run when England face Croatia in the UEFA Nations League at Wembley on Thursday, November 12.  Notably, the Barcelona winger has registered a goal or assist in each of his last seven appearances for the Three Lions, giving Thomas Tuchel a strong reason to rely on him during the November international break. His club form, however, presents a slightly different picture.  Since arriving from Newcastle United in the summer, Gordon has contributed three goals and five assists across competitions, but translating that productivity into performances against Europe’s strongest opponents remains an important challenge. Gordon’s England performances offer a contrast to Barcelona form Gordon’s consistency with England is an encouraging feature of his recent development.  His contributions for England have shown the attacking threat that convinced Barcelona to invest in him, particularly his ability to provide direct running, create opportunities and contribute in the final third. Anthony Gordon has a point to prove in the upcoming international matches. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) The upcoming fixtures against Croatia and Spain therefore offer further opportunities to maintain that momentum.  Simply put, these matches will give Gordon an opportunity to return to Barcelona with confidence after another demanding international assignment. Barcelona are still waiting for Gordon’s biggest performances The 25-year-old has gradually established himself in Flick’s starting XI, gaining an advantage over fellow summer signing Karim Adeyemi in the competition for an attacking position.  Although he has been on the scoresheet against Galatasaray, Getafe and Alaves, his performances against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have not consistently reflected his attacking potential.  In fact, since scoring against Galatasaray on October 13, he has managed only one goal in his subsequent six Barcelona appearances. Gordon is yet to score against an elite opponent for Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) That state alone shows the difference between settling into a new team and becoming decisive in its biggest matches.  Indeed, Gordon’s pace and directness are valuable qualities, but Barcelona need those attributes to translate into consistent end product against elite opposition. Flick is confident in Gordon’s long-term potential For what it is worth, Barcelona are satisfied with the winger’s progress and are not particularly concerned about his statistics failing to match his international influence immediately. Adapting to Flick’s possession-oriented football requires so much more than individual attacking ability, and Gordon must develop his understanding of combinations, positioning and decision-making within a system that demands technical precision. His international performances provide encouragement, but the next step is reproducing that influence regularly in a Barcelona shirt, especially against a top opponent.