by Ellie Clifford (6/1/25)
Above: Aitani Bonmatí in action for Barcelona. Photo: Barca Universal
Aitana Bonmatí has once again been one of the standout stars for FC Barcelona in Liga F this season, contributing six goals and the same number of assists so far. But what makes the Spaniard one of the best midfielders?
One of the key components of Bonmatí’s game is her technical proficiency. The box-to-box midfielder has exceptional ball control and dribbling skills which allows her to advance the ball from the defence to the attack. This season, Bonmatí has a successful dribble rate of 63.6% (in comparison to her team-mate Alexia Putellas on 42.9%)
The Catalan’s high footballing IQ also contributes to her successful dribbles, often manipulating her style of dribbling depending on the scenario she is in. When given space to exploit, Bonmatí takes longer touches to drive into space.
However, as the available space becomes smaller, she takes more controlled and shorter touches. This change in dribbling draws the opposition closer to her, creating space for her teammates to exploit.
When playing for Spain under Montse Tome, the 26-year-old acts as a deep-lying playmaker. This role is more disciplined and causes her responsibilities to shift towards providing defensive support and stability during transitions of play. However, defense is one of the weaker aspects of Bonmatí’s game due to her lack of physicality and disadvantage in aerial duels.
Bonmatí has linked up brilliantly with many different players over her years at Barcelona, but it’s Alexia Putellas who has provided her with the greatest partnership. Putellas offers more of a defensive cover than Bonmatí, winning 75% of all tackles and 75% of all aerial duels this season.
This, in turn, allows Bonmatí to advance further up the field and join attacks, often with late runs into the box. However, this partnership does not seem as effective at an international level. This may be due to the players’ similar characteristics causing them to restrict each other. Despite this, both players play a pivot role in the heart of both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team where they have contributed to major successes.
So, how do you stop Aitana Bonmatí? This is a question many teams have asked and have failed to answer. The most effective tactic is to dedicate one player to marking her out of the game. Even with this, Bonmatí still manages to exploit and create space by dragging this player out of the game. The Catalan star’s high skill level and good decision-making make her unpredictable, making it even harder for defenders to know how to cope against her.
Aitana Bonmatí’s technical ability, footballing IQ, and adaptability make her one of the world’s best midfielders. Her ability to transition between roles for club and country highlights her versatility and value as a player. She has firmly established herself as a key figure for both FC Barcelona and Spain. As Bonmatí’s career progresses, her drive to further evolve her skill set shows the potential for her to grow even further in the coming years, solidifying her legacy within the sport.
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