'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Catalan giants are the 2017/18 La Liga Champions. They are yet to lose a game in La Liga this season and could create a record if they remain unbeaten in their last four games. Though they missed out on the UEFA Champions League this season, they did extremely well in the domestic competitions.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez took the goal scoring responsibility after the departure of Neymar. Defensively, Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti performed well this season. Busquets, Iniesta, and Rakitic are having a good season in the middle of the park.
Here in this article, we will rate the Barcelona players (with a minimum of 10 competitive starts) based on their performances this season.
#18 Andre Gomes 3/10
Andre Gomes' 2017/18 season has been a disaster. Barcelona paid a lot of money for the Portuguese international in 2016, but he could not regain his best form at the Camp Nou until now. He warmed the bench for most of the season and failed to impress with his odd appearances.
#17 Lucas Digne 4/10
With Jordi Alba in the team, Lucas Digne rarely got opportunities to play for Barcelona this season. He made only 12 appearances for the club and was always a second choice left-back to Valverde. With Alba going from strength to strength, Digne might not have a future at Barcelona.
#16 Paco Alcacer 5/10
Paco Alcacer is one of the most talented but underused footballers in La Liga this season. With Messi and Suarez upfront, Alcacer was made to sit on the bench for the most part of the season. He was impressive with 4 goals and 3 assists in 8 La Liga starts in 2017/18. He is good enough to start games in most of the La Liga teams.
#15 Thomas Vermaelen 5.5/10
The Belgian was never a regular in the Barcelona team ever since his move to the Camp Nou in 2014. He made 10 La Liga starts for the first time in his Barcelona career and was impressive on occasions. He was often injured and never looked like a player we saw at the Emirates.
#14 Nelson Semedo 6/10
The 24-year-old Portuguese international's debut season at Barcelona was marred by injuries. The right-back made only 23 starts for the Catalan giants this season. Though he was not as good as Jordi Alba going forward, he was solid at the back. Next season could very much define his Barcelona career.
#13 Paulinho 6/10
It raised many eyebrows when Ernesto Valverde signed the Brazilian for a huge fee (40 million euros). Though he started well, he fell off the grid in the middle of the season and never came back. He warmed the bench for the most part of 2018.
#12 Ousmane Dembele 6.5/10
Arrived at the Camp Nou with a huge hype, the Frenchman's 2017/18 campaign was a disappointing one. He was out injured most of the time and did not play to his potential. He made only 11 competitive starts for Barcelona this season. The £135.5 million man will have to do a lot better if he wishes to remain at the Camp Nou for a long time.
#11 Philippe Coutinho 7/10
Bought from Liverpool for a fee of £142 million, Coutinho did not disappoint. He took his time but adapted well in the last few weeks. The Brazilian scored 3 goals and assisted 5 more in 12 La Liga starts this season. Having settled at the Camp Nou, we could see the best of Coutinho next season.
#10 Ivan Rakitic 7/10
Ivan Rakitic did a good job for Barcelona this season but was not at his best. He scored only two goals and assisted 4 more for the Catalan giants. The 30-year-old played well along with Sergio Busquets and also helped Messi and Suarez going forward.
#9 Sergi Roberto 7.5/10
This man is one of the most versatile players in the Barcelona squad and an unsung hero for the Blaugrana this season. He played mostly as a right-back this campaign and did an excellent job. He scored one goal and provided 6 assists in his 43 appearances so far in 2017/18.
#8 Samuel Umtiti 7.5/10
Samuel Umtiti is having a good season at the Camp Nou. The centre-back put in solid defensive displays in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. He missed a couple of months because of a hamstring injury. He is only 24 and could get a lot better next season.
#7 Andres Iniesta 8/10
The 33-year-old is one of the best midfielders of all-time. Though this was not his best season, Iniesta did not disappoint. He made some vital contributions and was absolutely brilliant in the Copa del Rey finals. This will be his last season at the Camp Nou and the void left by him is really hard to fill.
#6 Sergio Busquets 8/10
It is no surprise that he is one of Barcelona's most consistent performers for a long time. Sergio Busquets put in solid performances in the middle of the park, allowing Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic to play up the field. His work rate and commitment make him one of the best footballers in the world.
#5 Jordi Alba 8.5 /10
Jordi Alba is one of the best fullbacks in the world at the moment. The left-back made 43 appearances and was spectacular with his performances. He scored 3 goals and assisted 8 more for the Blaugrana in the 2017/18 campaign. He contributed a lot to Barcelona's attacking play and at the same time solid at the back.
#4 Marc-Andre Ter Stegen 8.5 /10
Ter Stegen is one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now and deserves a lot of praise for his brilliance. He was spectacular between the sticks for Barcelona this season and made some stunning saves. Along with Pique, he is one other important factor behind Barcelona's stunning defensive stability under Valverde.
#3 Gerard Pique 8.5/10
Barcelona has the second best defensive record in all of Europe's top 5 leagues this season and Gerard Pique is at the heart of it. Barcelona only conceded 21 goals in La Liga this season. He made 42 appearances for Barcelona and was brilliant at the back throughout the campaign.
#2 Luis Suarez 9/10
After a subdued start to the 2017/18 season, Luis Suarez returned his best in November and from then on he was unstoppable. He has scored 29 goals and assisted 12 more in all competitions this season. He shared the goal scoring responsibilities with Messi and the duo complemented each other really well.
#1 Lionel Messi 9.5 /10
The Argentine is Barcelona's and La Liga's best player this season without the slightest of doubts. He is amongst the goals this season with 42 of them in all competitions for the Catalan giants. He also made 14 assists and created a total of 77 chances in La Liga. He will most likely win the Pichichi award this season.
