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2018 was a year of contrasting fortunes for FC Barcelona domestically and continentally. While the Blaugrana won the 2017-18 LaLiga comfortably, they were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League by AS Roma in the last eight round.
After the low of the exit in Europe’s premier club competition, Barcelona gathered themselves to ensure a smooth ride to the Spanish league title.
In the 2018-19 season, they haven’t set the world ablaze domestically yet sit pretty at the perch of the table and enjoy a three-point lead over Atletico Madrid. In Europe, they emerged as toppers from a tricky group containing Tottenham and Inter Milan.
With Lyon beckoning in the round of 16, one can expect the Camp Nou outfit to be a part of the Champions League come April.
Thus, it is safe to say that Barcelona has enjoyed a decent season so far. Even though they’ve only sparked intermittently, the team has shown enough in reserve to get the job done on other occasions.
The LaLiga has entered its annual winter break and hence, we are accorded the opportunity to introspect how Barcelona’s players have performed so far in the first half of the campaign.
Without wasting further time, we are going to get down to business and take a closer look at the biggest hits and flops from the Blaugrana.
Also see : Gold Cup Standings, Copa America Standings, Womens World Cup Bracket
#3 Flop: Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian enjoyed a bright start to the 2018-19 season yet has fizzled out rather drastically since then. Though injuries have played a part in Coutinho not reaching the heights he is capable of, his inconsistent displays have also seen him warming the bench quite frequently.
The end product so synonymous with Coutinho has been missing this season with the Brazilian making the net bulge on only four occasions in the league. The last of his goals came in the 5-1 drubbing of Real Madrid.
Barcelona splashed an enormous amount of money to bring the midfielder on board and the initial part of his career endeared him to the Camp Nou faithful.
However, he has encountered a recent dip in form and currently can’t get anywhere near the first team.
Though Coutinho is probable to be back scoring and creating goals for fun very soon, it would be extremely naive to consider that the Brazilian has enjoyed a spectacular season so far.
Thus, he makes our list and ranks as the third worst Barcelona player before the winter break.
#3 Hit: Jordi Alba
The left-back has enjoyed a superlative season so far and has been arguably one of Barcelona’s most consistent performers. Though his attacking contribution has never been in doubt, Alba has looked much more assured in the final third this term and his stats back it up.
In the 2017-18 season, Alba racked up a total of 8 assists and 2 goals across the Champions League and the LaLiga. This season, however, he has already equalled his goal tally while surpassing the number of assists he provided in 2017-18.
Moreover, his telepathic understanding with Lionel Messi has proved to be one of Barcelona’s most potent attacking weapons. The Camp Nou outfit has averaged nearly three goals a game and Alba’s incisiveness has been pivotal.
In addition to his attacking prowess, he has improved significantly on the defensive side of his game and has been present to mop up the danger more often than not.
Over the course of the last season and a half, Alba has established himself as one of Barcelona’s most vital cogs. If they harbour hopes of winning the treble again, they need Alba performing at his best.
Thus, he takes the award for the third best Barcelona player in the first half of the season.
#2 Flop: Nelson Semedo
Nelson Semedo was signed in the summer of 2017 in order to solve Barcelona’s right full-back conundrum. Dani Alves was once the heartbeat of the team down the right flank yet after his departure, Barcelona have lacked an attacking edge on their right flank. Thus, when the Portuguese was signed from Benfica, many believed that he would be the final piece in the jigsaw.
However, the Portuguese failed to inspire last season and has continued with his sub-par displays this term as well.
Though Semedo has enjoyed more game time this season, it has been mainly due to the club’s injury woes in defence. The Portuguese player is a top-notch athlete capable of going up and down the flank regularly yet he has severely lacked the end product.
In the current season, Semedo has neither assisted a goal nor has he made the net bulge, thus bringing to light his Achilles heel.
Moreover, he has looked shaky defensively and has contributed majorly to Barcelona looking a lot more open this term. Additionally, his decision making and the judiciousness with which he has ventured forward has been called into question several times.
A major chunk of Barcelona’s attacking impetus comes from the full-backs with their forwards inclined to come in-field.
Yet, in a season where Alba has been thoroughly impressive, Semedo has been anything but that.
Thus, it is no surprise that he finds himself in the unenviable list of being one of the poorest Barcelona players this term.
#2 Hit: Ousmane Dembele
In the summer of 2017, Neymar left for newer pastures and proceeded for Paris. In response, Barcelona broke the bank to sign French sensation Ousmane Dembele for a sum exceeding €115million.
However, mere days into his Barcelona career, he suffered a terrible injury which sidelined him for the majority of the season. Dembele never got going with many believing the Frenchman wasn’t a natural fit for Barcelona’s style of play. Matters escalated in the summer when reports linked him with a move away.
Yet, Dembele has silenced all his critics one by one during the first half of his second season in Spain.
In the LaLiga, Dembele has notched up 7 goals to be the third highest goal-scorer for Barcelona after a certain Messi and Luis Suarez.
Moreover, it has been his ability to come up trumps in clutch situations that have earned him rave reviews. One can point to several instances where Barcelona have struggled to impose themselves yet have eventually triumphed courtesy a moment of genius by Dembele.
With such a huge transfer fee hanging over his head, the jury will always be out on whether Dembele was actually worth that much.
But, if he keeps conjuring similar bits of magic, the conversation will end and end for good, very soon.
#1 Flop: Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique has been an ever-present in Barcelona’s defence for the better part of this decade. However, the 2018-19 season has shown that he might just be nearing the twilight of his Barcelona career.
Pace had never been the Spaniard’s strongest asset yet he had a deceptive turn of pace, which helped bail him out of trouble. Moreover, his exemplary game-reading meant that he rarely found himself out of position.
Although Pique has popped up with an odd goal or two this term, he has looked a pale shadow of himself. The turn of pace is nowhere to be found and he has left his teammates exposed on several occasions.
Additionally, an increased amount of mistakes has crept into his game.
The Spaniard has been a colossus at the back over the years for the Blaugrana and whenever he has a bad game, Barcelona invariably struggle.
Thus, it isn’t a huge surprise that Barcelona have conceded 19 goals in 17 league games so far.
The 2018-19 season has by no means been one of Pique’s best and though he might still be one of the best defenders in the world, it simply hasn’t clicked for the Spaniard this term.
Thus, he has the misfortune of claiming the award for the worst Barcelona player so far.
#1 Hit: Lionel Messi
Did anyone for a moment even think anyone else could have topped our list? If so, they would certainly have been watching some different football altogether.
The Argentine was criticised last season for failing to inspire Barcelona to success in the Champions League. Messi fired a blank in tow games against Roma and many believed that the forward was on the decline. How wrong could the critics have been?
The Argentine has set the world on fire this term with him providing ammunition for his teammates to fire as well as making the net ripple on his own.
Messi already has 15 goals in the league with a further 6 goals coming in the Champions League. Additionally, he has provided 10 assists in the league, thus becoming the player involved in the most number of goals across Europe this season.
Till now, the Argentine has hardly put a foot wrong and has mesmerised everyone with his sumptuous displays. It seems that the untimely exit from the Champions League has rejuvenated him and he looks a man on a mission.
When on top form, there is no defender in the world who can stop Messi. Thus, Barcelona would hope he can continue his mojo when the business end approaches.
Messi has been scintillating thus far and yet, he is apparently only the fifth best player in the world.
Though the discussion about the Ballon d’Or is better left for another day, the one undeniable fact is that a certain Argentine has been the best player across Europe so far.
Thus, it just had to be Lionel Messi at the top of our list.
