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Barcelona has a lot of attacking options this year. Leo Messi, Suarez, Malcom, Dembele, Rafinha, Paco, Munir etc. Though some may leave the club, still it will be difficult for Valverde to select the attacking trio or duo.
Dembele is linked with a move away from the Nou Camp, and Munir is likely to be loaned out. Turkish giants Fenerbahce are interested in making a deal for Rafinha, or else he'll be loaned out as well.
Paco is probably staying as a backup striker for Luis Suarez. Barcelona are heavily linked to Willian, but Chelsea has labeled him with a high price. Maybe the Catalan side may not require his services anymore, as Malcom has been added to the side.
The most likely formation would be a 4-2-2, with Leo and Suarez leading the attack. But let’s see what Valverde has planned for Blaugrana. Luis prefers a more central role, and this could be one of the reasons why he has underperformed last season.
He has been playing as a central striker since his time at Ajax, and the 4-4-2 formation might be affecting his form and game. The 4-4-1-1 system will be good enough for him to perform, as that makes him a sole striker, and Messi plays brilliant football behind the striker.
However, if Barca is to play a 4-3-3 system, this is how their different possible options in attack can be ranked.
#4 Coutinho - Suarez - Messi
Coutinho does great work as a left winger, and he looks more confident. His versatility will be his key to success, and he’ll be getting more playing time as well. Coutinho is rumoured to take Iniesta’s spot as a CAM, but Valverde might try to use him on the wings as well, given Arthur is also a good competitor for the CAM spot.
Suarez plays better as a central striker, rather than in a 2 man attack. Although his coordination with Leo is outstanding, he still finds it difficult to play as a left striker. That’s mainly because he lacks pace. But when he is made to play as a central striker, all he has to do is run into gaps and keep making space for himself.
Messi mostly plays through the center, though he’s a left/right winger on paper. He is the type of attacker who drops deep and starts attacks by himself, and this is one of the reasons why Barcelona is dependent on him. He does the job of a CAM, in simpler words.
He creates, dribbles and makes forward runs with ease. Finishing is what his teammates need to do, something Suarez has been lacking since the start of the 2017-18 season.
#3 Messi - Suarez - Malcom
Malcom did pretty well at Bordeaux, scoring 20 times in under 84 appearances at domestic level. He also had 13 assists to his name.
The Brazilian forward is just 21 years old and had been a threat on the right wing to Ligue 1 teams. Malcom can also play as a CAM, and has decent defending abilities. Malcom has some pretty great stunners to his name, and he possesses immense leg power.
Dembele will probably be the first choice winger for Valverde, but as Malcom has joined pre-season training, Valverde may change his mind.
Dembele has played in a tougher league and has a better assist ratio than Malcom. The Frenchmen needs to cut short his vacation and join the pre-season warm up games if he wishes to play as a starter, and not a substitute.
All stats via transfermarkt
#2 Messi - Malcom/Paco - Dembele
This formation is the most unlikely one, but as Suarez has been under-performing, Valverde might want to try different options. Munir has improved his game significantly well at Deportivo Alaves, and has joined the squad for the pre-season tour as well.
The coach might surely want to take look at his skills. But he is likely to be loaned out. Paco, on the other hand has done pretty well in games he has come on as a substitute. But he needs to improve a lot if he wants game time at a club like Barcelona where competition is always high.
Talking about competition - Malcom could also play as a striker, and his pace could trouble opposition defenders. He can slip through offside traps, and Messi never misses picking a run from a teammate.
Malcom and Dembele have similar playing styles, though I feel Malcom might have an upper hand because he possesses better body strength and therefore can play as a striker as well.
The right back/right wing duo of Semedo and Dembele have created problems for opposition defenders in the past, and with Malcom added to the squad now, defenders will have nightmares.
Malcom needs to adjust to Barcelona's playing style, and Valverde will likely not deploy him too soon. Although he has joined the pre-season tour, it's hard to believe he'll bench either Coutinho, Dembele or Suarez.
#1 Dembele - Suarez - Messi
This attacking line-up is the most likely, and can get the best out of Dembele and Suarez. Dembele will have a whole wing to himself, and Suarez will get back to his original style of football - an out and out striker.
Messi and Dembele together sent home a tough Chelsea side in the knockout stages of the Champions League last season, with Messi scoring a brace in the second leg. Messi had spotted Dembeles run, and the Frenchman blasted the shot into the back of the net.
They both have great understanding, and Dembele takes some creative pressure off Messi. They have similar playing styles, and together they can stroll past any defense. Valverde may try to play a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1.
This can enable Dembele express himself completely, since he will have a wider role in a 4-3-3 system. Coutinho is a beast on the left hand side and plays brilliant football as a CAM. Nevertheless, he can also take up the role of a left winger in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Versatility is one of his greatest qualities.
The 4-4-1-1 formation could also be used by Valverde, as Messi gets to play as a number 10, this he seems to prefer. Suarez gets to play as a pure central striker with Dembele and Coutinho on the right and left wing respectively. Busquets and Rakitic would pull the strings in the midfield.
