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Catalan giants, FC Barcelona had a decent outing last term, claiming both the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey trophy during Ernesto Valverde's first year at the club and they have come back stronger this season as they set their sights on winning the treble.
It has been a promising campaign from the Blaugrana so far, who currently sit on top of the La Liga table with an impressive 5 points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid. Ernesto Valverde's men have also progressed into the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with a Round of 16 encounter with Olympique Lyonnaise up next while they also remain in contention to defend the Copa Del Rey trophy.
While most of their players have been firing on all cylinders since the beginning of the campaign, it is important to acknowledge that there are bigger tests ahead. Therefore, we decided to highlight 5 Blaugrana superstars who would be highly influential as the campaign enters its decisive phase:
#5. Philippe Coutinho
Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho has found life a bit difficult at the Nou Camp this season amidst a run of poor form which has seen him lose his place in Ernesto Valverde's starting lineup but it would be a huge mistake to write him off yet because the attacker still has a lot to offer.
Regardless of his struggles so far during the term, the former Liverpool superstar is still the man that Barcelona need to count on when they reach the decisive stage of the campaign - thanks to his incredible ability to unlock even the strongest defences in the blink of an eye.
He can find the back of the net from long range, which makes him a vital asset against opponents that sit behind while his ability to play both in attack and in the middle will give Ernesto Valverde plenty of options squad.
A well-proven talent in European football, there is no doubt Coutinho will definitely bounce back to his best and his goal against Levante in the Copa Del Rey during the midweek will do a lot in boosting his confidence as we approach the decisive stages of the campaign.
#4. Marc Andre Ter Stegen
Barcelona has assembled an enviable team, full of incredible superstars in all areas of the pitch as well as high-quality options to call upon from the bench. From the attack to the midfield and down to the defence, the team is beaming with quality at the moment.
The Catalans are a pro-offensive team, which implies that whenever they push forward, there would be spaces that opposing teams can exploit. If opponents exploit these spaces and manage to get past the defence, there is only one man who could stop them, and that is their goalkeeper, Marc Andre Ter Stegen.
While the attackers often get the plaudits, it must be highlighted that Barcelona will need strong support from their guardian, especially in the UEFA Champions League where there are plenty of threatening offensive teams and a lot of incredible attacking talents.
Ter Stegen has always been an influential figure in the Catalan capital and with his incredible efforts between the sticks so far, he is also one of the few superstars Barcelona will be looking up to during the decisive phase of the season.
#3. Arturo Vidal
Similar to Paulinho Bezerra, the signing of Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal raised a lot of eyebrows during the previous summer, but just like his South American compatriot, the former Bayern Munich superstar has put all doubts to bed with his impressive performances in the Catalan capital so far.
Even though it did take some time before opportunities started coming in, Vidal grabbed his chances with both hands and he has quickly established himself as a vital figure at the Nou Camp - starting the last 6 La Liga fixtures for the Catalan giants and he will play a huge role for the club as the season progresses.
An immensely physical midfielder, Vidal will be needed against teams who could bully Barcelona with their physicality and the Blaugrana can count on him to help them in avoiding embarrassments such as the one they suffered at the hands of Roma in the UEFA Champions League last season.
#2. Ousmane Dembele
Barcelona signed French winger Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund following the departure of Neymar Junior in 2017. Although the attacker failed to have much impact in his debut season amidst injury struggles, he has been able to turn things around in the Catalan capital and he has quickly become one of the most influential superstars at the Nou Camp this season.
While his disciplinary concerns and time-keeping issues dominated the headlines a few weeks ago, Dembele has been stepping up when it matters most, firing the Catalans in front of goal as well covering their blushes on a number of occasions.
The former Borussia Dortmund superstar has recorded an amazing 9 goals and 5 assists to his name in 23 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions so far this season and it is evident that the Catalan giants have high hopes for him as they approach the vital side of the campaign.
#1. Lionel Messi
It has been another impressive season for Argentine superstar Lionel Messi who has maintained his incredible level of influence for Barcelona so far, taking the leading role as he charges the Catalan giants in their mission to win the treble this season.
The playmaker has been quite unmatchable, scoring goals freely and providing assists almost at will. He has recorded an amazing 16 goals and 11 assists to his name in 16 La Liga appearances so far, while he has also found the back of the net a whopping 6 times and set up 1 goal in just 4 appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
As always, Messi's influence is what keeps Barcelona dreaming and with the Argentine in such a devastating form at the moment, the Blaugrana have a huge chance to sweep all the three trophies before them during the campaign.
