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Barcelona have begun the 2018-19 LaLiga season on a positive note as they are sitting at the top of the table with 12 points at the moment. Ernesto Valverde's side ended their 2017-18 campaign on an impressive note as the Catalans won the LaLiga title for the time.
The 54-year-old manager had expressed disappointment as Messi & co couldn’t make it to the semifinals of the 2017-18 Champions League, losing against a resolute AS Roma side in the quarterfinals. Although Valverde had stated that winning last season’s LaLiga title was a morale booster for his side.
Valverde also went on to say that winning the 2018-19 Champions League along with the Spanish LaLiga will be like an icing on the cake. Barcelona also made a smart buy this season in the form of Arturo Vidal from Bayern Munich which clearly shows that the Catalans were eager to sharpen their forward line. Barcelona also won their first game of the Champions League with a 4-0 win against PSV Eindhoven, which will do their confidence a world of good.
The Spanish giants currently are looking in decent form and Ernesto Valverde and the Barcelona team management will be hoping that the players come good during crucial situations. We take a look at 5 such players who could be crucial for Barcelona’s success in the 2018-19 season.
# 1 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi will once again be expected to play a vital role for the Catalans as his presence in the forward line has always been influential for Barcelona. The 2017-18 Spanish LaLiga season was an eventful one for the Argentine, but the 31-year-old couldn’t replicate the same performances in the Champions League.
After a disappointing World Cup campaign in Russia where his side was knocked out in the quarterfinals, Messi will be eager to prove his class. Lionel Messi will be the core of Barcelona’s forward line. The Argentine has formed a deadly combo with the likes of Luis Suarez in the forward line.
Many thought that maybe after the departure of Neymar, the balance of their forward line might get affected, but the 31-year-old has teamed up quite well with Suarez in the forward line and his coordination with the midfield could be a crucial factor for Barcelona. Lionel Messi scored 34 goals in 36 games in the 2017-18 LaLiga season with 12 assists to his name.
He registered 6 goals in 10 Champions League games in the last season with 2 assists to his name. The striker will surely be a threat for the opposition with his creative dribbles and his accelerating runs. Messi has scored 4 goals in 4 games in the ongoing LaLiga season. Lionel Messi holds a commanding position in Barcelona’s forward line who has decided the outcome of a game with his individual brilliance.
#2 Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez can dominate the opposition’s defence with his aggressive style of play. Lionel Messi should consider himself lucky as he has an able partner in the form of Luis Suarez in the forward line who he can bank upon for support during critical situations of a game.
Together the duo have ripped apart the best defences with their attacking game and will once again be expected to call the shots in the forward line. Luis Suarez has been a revelation for the Catalans since his arrival at Camp Nou, as the 31-year-old has threatened every opposition with his mazy runs and electrifying pace.
Luis Suarez has operated quite well in the flanks. Though Luis Suarez had slowed down a bit mid-season in the last season because of fitness issues, he managed to regain his rhythm during the latter part of the season. His intensity tends to lift the morale of his teammates.
Luis Suarez played a crucial role for Uruguay in the recently concluded World Cup but had expressed disappointment as his team couldn’t make it to the semi-finals losing to eventual champions France in the quarterfinals.
Luis Suarez scored 25 goals in 33 games in the 2017-18 LaLiga season with 12 assists to his name. The striker has already scored 3 goals in 4 games in the ongoing LaLiga season. Luis Suarez will be a key figure in Barcelona’s line up not only in the ongoing season but also the Champions League in the months going ahead.
#3 Arturo Vidal
Arturo Vidal’s much-anticipated arrival at Barcelona was welcomed and keenly awaited by many Barcelona fans. Vidal’s presence will add a lot of sting in the Barcelona midfield. The 31-year-old will be the heart of the midfield and it will be interesting to see how he combines with the likes of Ivan Rakitic and Rafinha in the midfield. Vidal’s presence will also be crucial for the forward line and his coordination with Messi and Suarez will be critical.
Vidal is a player who can also be used as an attacking midfielder as the Chilean has looked sharp both offensively as well as defensively. Vidal could score only 6 goals in 22 games in the last season for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, but the former Juventus player can outsmart any opposition with his intelligent moves and clever passes.
He has also showcased his ability to score with his electric pace and brilliant counter-attacks. Vidal has the knack of creating chances inside the box for the forwards and can be a tricky customer because of his ability to move into goalscoring positions. Vidal’s form will surely shape Barcelona’s chances in the ongoing season.
#4 Ivan Rakitic
After a dream, World Cup campaign and a decent show in the Spanish LaLiga last season Rakitic will definitely look forward to continuing with his good run of form. The 29-year-old will be an integral part of the midfield while his link-up with Arturo Vidal will be the key for Barcelona.
It will also depend on both these players combine especially when they face a team who are quick on counter attacks. The Croatian can be quite handy with his creative moves and his ability to create chances in the opposition’s territory with his deceptive moves. It will also be interesting to see how he links up with the forward line.
Rakitic can also be dangerous up front with his ability to score goals. Ernesto Valverde had lamented that a player of Rakitic’s class can upgrade the quality of the midfield. His presence can make look any outfit intense. The focus will surely be on Ivan Rakitic and his form will be crucial for Barcelona’s chances of lifting silverware.
#5 Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique’s performance in the recently concluded World Cup in Russia wasn’t a satisfactory one. His team lost against a determined Russian side in the pre-quarters on penalties which were considered a below-par performance. Pique had also expressed his disappointment on his team’s performance.
Pique recently announced his retirement from the national side but the defender will be eager to prove his worth for the Catalans as the 31-year-old will be the backbone of Barcelona’s defence and has stood firm for the Catalans during crucial situations. The 31-year-old has manned Barcelona’s with his resolute approach since the last ten seasons.
Although in the 2018-19 season the defender had some issues relating to his fitness, Gerard Pique made a strong comeback with some decent performances in the latter part of the season. Pique has always been quite strong in winning aerial duals which is why he is considered one of the best defenders in Europe.
He has the presence of mind to provide some precise long crosses to the forward line during the run of play, while he can use his physicality to great use by making some smart tackles.
