League, Cup & CL treble still possible for Barça

April is here and the run-in to the end of the season is upon us. The three months since our last look at Valverde’s Barça have seen 13 league games return 10 wins and three draws, with 32 goals for and just six against, including a possibly season-defining 3-0 win at the Bernabeú, spectacular wins over Betis and Girona respectively, comfortable progress to the final of the King’s Cup, where they will meet Sevilla on April 21, and passage into the quarter finals of the Champions League after a flattering 4-1 aggregate win over Chelsea. The only blip was an ultimately irrelevant 1-0 first leg Cup defeat at Espanyol and unexpected league draws away at Espanyol and Las Palmas and at home against Getafe. Let’s take a look at how that successful run has been put together.

The undeniable element that comes up in every opposition manager’s post-match analysis against Barça is of course Leo Messi’s form. At the age of 30, the Argentinian wizard is in his prime, regularly waltzing through even tight defences to score or set up a teammate. In the 19 games he has played since Barça defeated Depor 4-0 in mid-December, Messi has scored 17 goals and provided eight assists, and his season’s total at the time of writing is 34 goals in 36 games for Barça. That’s some form he’s in, and Luis Suárez and new boys Coutinho and Dembélé are all benefitting from the mesmerising attacking football he instigates. Speaking of Barça’s latest signings, they are also winning over the critics in this potentially all conquering first season with Valverde at the helm.

One player who has not enjoyed the same fortune is the much pilloried Andre Gomes, who was booed when he came on as substitute at the Camp Nou. But that now appears to be another situation that Valverde has managed calmly and professionally, making it clear in the press that Gomes will not be able to perform if he does not get support from the crowd, an appeal to which the Camp Nou faithful have responded, for now.

But what of the rest of the team? A return of nine goals conceded in the 21 games since mid-December, including shut-outs at the Bernabéu and at home against the likes of Atlético Madrid –who ended the game with four strikers on the pitch– and English champions Chelsea, suggests that all is well in the defensive department. Umtiti’s loss during December and January was not felt as hard as it might have been thanks to Mascherano delaying his departure until the end of January and Vermaelen doing a more than competent job when filling in for the injured Frenchman. Semedo’s absence has led to Sergi Roberto again filling in at right back, without any untoward consequences. And as mentioned previously, Ter Stegen has excelled between the sticks this season.

In midfield, the peerless ball-winning and dominance of Sergio Busquets has allowed Barça to continue their often thrilling direct passing style under Valverde, and Rakitic and Iniesta are as reliable as ever, despite the latter’s recent injuries.

The biggest challenge now, of course, will be to triumph in the Champions League, and after knocking out Chelsea with a crucial Messi away goal at Stamford Bridge followed by a Messi-inspired win at home, Barça have been rewarded with what many will consider one of the easiest quarter final draws in Roma. Fans will be optimistic at the prospect and Valverde will know that if they get past that hurdle and into the semi finals then the treble becomes a very distinct possibility.

FOOTBALL