Barcelona are the team to beat once again in the upcoming season of La Liga.
Few pundits would have expected their rise last season, a campaign which saw them win the league title and the Copa del Rey. After all, the departure of Neymar, the dominance of Real Madrid and the hiring of a new coach have put a lot of uncertainties about their future.
However, the Catalan giants erased everyone’s worries with a record-breaking season that saw them go 36 games unbeaten before losing in the penultimate fixture of the top-flight campaign.
This year is different for them, though. Unlike last year, the pressure is high this time. And with plenty of major signings and the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Los Blancos, Barcelona are expected to breeze through the title and defend the Spanish crown.
Can they do it? SBOBET takes a look at what has changed for Barcelona, their strengths and major concerns, as well as our prediction for them in the 2018/19 season.
Key Strengths
Barcelona won the 2017/18 campaign comfortably, finishing 14 points ahead of eventual runners-up Atletico Madrid. As mentioned, they recorded a 36-match unbeaten run and couldn’t be faulted for their efforts in a season that they obviously overachieved.
The Catalans undoubtedly have a strong and deep squad, and that will be the biggest problem that their opponents will have when facing them. They have quality in all areas, particularly up front where they boast an attacking unit of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Ousmane Dembele.
Barca scored 99 goals last year, 41 more than Atletico Madrid. The team’s offence became more lethal as well with the arrival of Malcom—a player who scored 12 goals for Bordeaux last year.
And should we mention the midfield? They have World Cup standout performers in Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic, whose spectacular display helped Croatia reach the final. There’s also new signing Arthur Melo who has often drawn comparisons with Barcelona midfield legend Xavi.
The acquisition of Arturo Vidal from Bayern Munich comes with a risk, but if he stays healthy and injury-free, he could be a great addition to the Barca midfield.
Defensively, Barca have the likes of Samuel Umtiti, Thomas Vermaelen, Gerard Pique and Nelson Semedo anchoring the back. They have Marc-Andre ter Stegen too, undoubtedly one of the best goalies in the world.
Major Weaknesses and Concerns
For a championship team like Barca, it should be difficult to find any flaws. However, that’s not the case. Truth be told, the team has one glaring weakness: Ernesto Valverde and his tactics.
Credit should be given to the 54-year-old boss after guiding Barcelona to a double in his first season. Nonetheless, his tactical approach and the way he manages his rotation leaves much to be desired.
Case on point: the 0-3 reversal they suffered against Roma in last year’s Champions League.
Up 4-1 after the first leg, all Barcelona needed to do was protect their lead. However, instead of resting his players and ensuring they are at their best when they play the second leg at Stadio Olimpico, Valverde decided to field his best players in their league game against Leganes three days before the UCL match.
The Roma shock was a sad case of exhaustion, but Valverde could have done better in managing his team and thinking of the best way to play the game.
Barca are deep but Valverde needs to fully utilise his talented squad if they want to reach new heights, not only in the La Liga but also in Europe.
Another thing worth pondering for Barca is the replacement for Andres Iniesta. Coutinho is often pegged as his successor, but the Brazilian was visibly more comfortable (and at his best) playing in an attacking midfield role.
Barca have been linked with Paul Pogba, and although there are concerns if he would be able to adapt on the team’s emphasis on positional plays, the Frenchman undoubtedly has the vision and passing ability to fill the void left by Iniesta.
Key Players to Watch
All eyes will be on Messi of course!
As if there’s any doubt, Messi is expected to be the man who will carry all of Barca’s hopes this season. He bagged a double-double of 34 goals and 12 assists last year for the Pichichi Trophy, and fans count on him to grab headlines on a nightly basis and become a fixture in La Liga 2018 highlights.
He was recently named as the club’s new captain, which should put his leadership skills under the spotlight.
Other than Messi, Rakitic is also one to watch. He established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world at the World Cup, and hopes are high that he can replicate his form at Camp Nou to help the club add more to the success they had in 2017/18.
Fearless Forecast
La Liga 2018 odds have Barcelona winning the Spanish top-flight trophy, and I expect them to do so comfortably. They have all the tools to dominate, and I don’t think Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have what it takes to topple them from the summit…not yet anyway.
However, I have worries about their Champions League chances. In recent years, they always give this feeling like they are on the verge of collapsing in European competition. While I see them reaching the semis or finals of the competition, I’m still not convinced Valverde is the right man to guide them to European glory.
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