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Goal.com 50: Lucas Barrios (47)
Goal.com's countdown of the top 50 players of 2010-11 continues with the Dortmund and Paraguay forward, who makes his debut in 47th position.
Jul 28, 2011 6:00:00 AM
By Clark Whitney
Getty
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50.
Since arriving in Germany in 2009, Lucas Barrios has been a revelation for Dortmund. After several years without a real target man in the center, the Ruhr side signed the prolific Argentina native to bring a new dynamic to their attack.
Having found the net 53 times in 56 appearances for Colo-Colo, Barrios came with the reputation for being a serial goalscorer; in South America, he earned the nickname 'The Panther'. And since his move, he has not disappointed: he helped catapult Dortmund from mid-table to a fifth-placed finish in his first year, and to the Bundesliga title in 2011.
When all was said and done, the San Fernando-born striker ended his second season in Germany having found the net 21 times in 41 appearances, leading the champion both in goals and in goals-plus-assists.
The Paraguay international may have a reputation for being somewhat wasteful with his chances, but he is nonetheless a true goalscorer. Barrios’ instincts in the attacking area are impeccable; he finds chances in situations where many strikers would not. His running off the ball and strength, aspects of his game that are often under-appreciated, make him a nightmare for defenders. In the attacking third he can hold up the ball well, and has a knack for making defense-splitting passes. And, critically, his movement leaves space for his team-mates to attack.
None of these attributes require service in offensive positions, meaning that Barrios has the versatility to adapt to less favorable conditions, such as those he experienced at the Copa America. In the recent tournament, Paraguay often struggled to bring the ball out of its own half, but the Dortmund man was a valuable asset in defense, and served as a useful outlet as his country managed to finish runner-up.
Barrios’ primary task as a striker is, of course, to score goals, and that he does well. He can finish with both feet, and his 6-foot-2 frame and leaping ability make him especially dangerous in the air. Crucially, he tends to make an impact in the matches that matter most: the prolific forward opened the scoring in both of Dortmund’s matches against Bayern Munich last year, and his best individual performance of the season came in April against a Hannover side that had been in blistering form before his two goals and one assist led BVB to a 4-1 win.
Among others, Chelsea and Zenit have allegedly made big offers to Dortmund for the services of Barrios, with bids estimated to be in excess of 20 million euros. The Germans have yet to bite, however, seeing even more value in the player, who joined for just 4.2m euros.
Hopes are high in Dortmund as the Black-And-Yellows begin their title defense and return to the Champions League. As the focal point of Jurgen Klopp's attack, Barrios will have a massive burden to shoulder. He has in the past proven more than capable of rising to the occasion, however; with a successful 2011-12 season, he may have a new type of trophy to add to his cabinet.
Since arriving in Germany in 2009, Lucas Barrios has been a revelation for Dortmund. After several years without a real target man in the center, the Ruhr side signed the prolific Argentina native to bring a new dynamic to their attack.
Having found the net 53 times in 56 appearances for Colo-Colo, Barrios came with the reputation for being a serial goalscorer; in South America, he earned the nickname 'The Panther'. And since his move, he has not disappointed: he helped catapult Dortmund from mid-table to a fifth-placed finish in his first year, and to the Bundesliga title in 2011.
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"He is the best forward in the Bundesliga." - Kevin Grosskreutz
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When all was said and done, the San Fernando-born striker ended his second season in Germany having found the net 21 times in 41 appearances, leading the champion both in goals and in goals-plus-assists.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| BUNDESLIGA: BAYERN 1-3 DORTMUND |
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| With typical predatory instinct, Barrios capitalised on a defensive error and burst forward to open the scoring in what became a comprehensive victory. |
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The Paraguay international may have a reputation for being somewhat wasteful with his chances, but he is nonetheless a true goalscorer. Barrios’ instincts in the attacking area are impeccable; he finds chances in situations where many strikers would not. His running off the ball and strength, aspects of his game that are often under-appreciated, make him a nightmare for defenders. In the attacking third he can hold up the ball well, and has a knack for making defense-splitting passes. And, critically, his movement leaves space for his team-mates to attack.
None of these attributes require service in offensive positions, meaning that Barrios has the versatility to adapt to less favorable conditions, such as those he experienced at the Copa America. In the recent tournament, Paraguay often struggled to bring the ball out of its own half, but the Dortmund man was a valuable asset in defense, and served as a useful outlet as his country managed to finish runner-up.
Barrios’ primary task as a striker is, of course, to score goals, and that he does well. He can finish with both feet, and his 6-foot-2 frame and leaping ability make him especially dangerous in the air. Crucially, he tends to make an impact in the matches that matter most: the prolific forward opened the scoring in both of Dortmund’s matches against Bayern Munich last year, and his best individual performance of the season came in April against a Hannover side that had been in blistering form before his two goals and one assist led BVB to a 4-1 win.
| "Barrios has a killer instinct, he is always hungry for the goal. He has the potential to score twice as many goals next year." |
Among others, Chelsea and Zenit have allegedly made big offers to Dortmund for the services of Barrios, with bids estimated to be in excess of 20 million euros. The Germans have yet to bite, however, seeing even more value in the player, who joined for just 4.2m euros.
Hopes are high in Dortmund as the Black-And-Yellows begin their title defense and return to the Champions League. As the focal point of Jurgen Klopp's attack, Barrios will have a massive burden to shoulder. He has in the past proven more than capable of rising to the occasion, however; with a successful 2011-12 season, he may have a new type of trophy to add to his cabinet.
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