'%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)
Having performed creditably well throughout the course of the season, Barcelona find themselves still in the run to win a treble this season.
Even though their stalemate in the clash with Villareal reduced their lead atop La Liga to eight points, the Blaugrana would still fancy their chances of retaining the league and Cup trophies they won last season.
It is on the continent where their problems lie, as the club still faces some issues which must be addressed if they are to go all the way in Europe.
There are still a number of quality teams left in the competition who could end Barca's quest for a first Champions League crown since 2015 and as such, the players must perform at an optimum level if they are to go all the way.
The current Barcelona squad is among the strongest in the world, possessing some of the finest players anywhere on the planet who on their day can lay claim to being the best in their respective positions.
Hence, the players potentially hold the key to Barcelona's progress in the competition, as their performance levels would determine whether the cub goes all the way or not.
In this piece, we shall be taking a look at five players who could play key roles in ensuring Barcelona's Champions League triumph.
Also see : Manchester Transfer News, Chelsea Transfer News, Gold Cup Standings
#5 Marc-Andre ter Stegen
ter Stegen joined Barcelona in 2014 from Borussia Monchengladbach for the sum of €12m and he immediately helped the club to a treble in his debut season.
Since then, the 26-year-old has grown from strength to strength, with his domineering displays between the sticks earning him widespread praise.
The German international is currently regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world, which makes Joachim Low's decision to stick with Manuel Neuer as the goalkeeper of the German national team a baffling one.
ter Stegen is extremely reliable between the sticks, with his sharp reflexes and ball playing abilities proving instrumental to Barcelona, while his optimum concentration levels mean he is always alert despite rarely being tested.
So far this season, he has made 40 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona keeping 16 cleans sheets to help the club keep up their assault on three fronts.
As the saying goes, great goalkeepers help to win titles and he is right up there with the greatest at the moment. If Barcelona are to go all the way in the Champions League, then he would have a huge role to play.
#4 Malcom
A rather less obvious choice given his lack of first-team opportunities, Malcom's role could, however, come as a surprise impact player.
The 22-year-old has rarely featured for Barcelona since making his controversial transfer from Bordeaux, but on the few occasions when he has played, he has shown his usefulness to the Barcelona cause, adding a different dimension to the Catalan's attack.
Given that the preferred Ousmane Dembele is out injured and a doubt for the clash against Manchester United, Malcom could get his chance to make a case for his Barcelona future and what better way than by making a statement in the Champions League?
The frequency with which we've watched them over the years means that we know the capabilities of players like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and the likes. However, Malcom offers a sort of X factor - something new and fresh, and this could make him a surprise ace up Ernesto Valverde's sleeve.
#3 Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez has arguably been the standout striker in the world over the last decade, with his penchant for goals and high work rate earning him plenty plaudits.
Despite his extremely controversial history, Luis Suarez has been one of the most consistent goalscorers in history and is the only man in history to have won Golden Boots in the Eredivisie, Premier League and La Liga. He is also one of the highest scoring active players.
However, for all his scoring prowess, Uruguay's all-time record goalscorer has found it difficult to get going on the continent in recent seasons.
He is yet to find the back of the net in six Champions League fixtures this season, while he has scored just four in his last 25 UCL matches.
Incredibly, Luis Suarez has gone a massive 1,294 days without an away Champions League goal - a run which stretches back 17 games to a clash with AS Roma in September 2015.
If Barcelona are to progress, they would need Suarez to rediscover his scoring touch in the competition. Without this, Barcelona could once again fail in their quest to get their hands on the big one.
#2 Gerard Pique
While a lot of praise has been given to Barcelona's attackers and midfielders over the years, the truth is that a lot of defenders have played their role in the club's success over the last decade and perhaps none more so than Gerard Pique.
The 32-year-old is a La Masia graduate but left the club for Manchester United, returning in 2008 to help the club win its first ever treble.
Pique inherited the mantle of the Barcelona defense following the retirement of Carlos Puyol in 2012. With over 30 major honors won, Pique is one of the most decorated players in football history. He has lifted virtually every trophy available at both club and international level.
Even though he might have his detractors, what critics cannot take away from the unrepentant Catalan apologist is his commitment to his team's cause. His technique on the ball has been crucial in Barcelona's confidence in playing out from the back.
Given the attacking strength of the teams left in the tournament, Barcelona would need Pique to bring his attacking A game, while his penchant for also popping in with the odd goal or two would also come in handy.
#1 Lionel Messi
This is the man upon whose shoulders all of Barcelona's hopes lie and given his other worthy talents, Messi has the requisite ability to carry such burden.
The Argentine international's performance level has been nothing short of phenomenal ever since he made his Barcelona debut in 2004, such that he has gone on to cement his legacy as the club's greatest.
Good luck to anyone else trying to match Messi's records in future, as they are so extraordinary that you needed to witness them to truly believe.
So far this season, the 31-year-old continues to set the standards and is already among the frontrunners for this year's Ballon d'Or.
However, Barcelona fans would be wary of their talisman's struggles in the one competition which they have their mind most set on.
Lionel Messi is without a Champions League quarterfinal goal since 2013 and it is no surprise that the Blaugrana have progressed past this stage just once since then.
This is an anomaly the number 10 would be seeking to correct and if he can successfully navigate his club past this stage, then there could be no stopping Barcelona.
