ESPN FC’s Alejandro Moreno believes Barcelona have a real chance to win the treble this season with the trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez leading the charge.
Barcelona have two season-defining matches in the space of four days that will go a long way in deciding how many trophies they end up with this campaign. And with 16 wins from 18 matches so far this year, the signs are promising.
However, while all the talk is of the Clasico at the top of La Liga on Sunday night, Barcelona can’t afford anything other than 100 percent professionalism against Manchester City on Wednesday.
The players appear to have taken that on board with Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi all in for extra training Monday on their day off, but you would expect nothing less ahead of two huge games from players who have won so much.
The warning signs are there. Mid-table teams such as Real Sociedad and Malaga have recently shown this Barca side can be shut out while enjoying success at the other end of the pitch and opponents such as City and Real Madrid are capable of turning over any side on their day.
To reach the Champions League quarterfinal for an eighth consecutive year, Barca must not get involved in a high-scoring game with the Premier League champions, but this side does not have the game for shutting up shop and will undoubtedly go out to improve on the 2-1 lead with which they left northern England last month.
Luis Suarez, who got both that night, and the omnipotent Messi (who hit a double on Saturday in Eibar) are always in the mood for goals but it is at the back where mistakes must be kept to a minimum. The big decision for Luis Enrique is whom to choose as a partner for Pique in the centre of that defence.
That comes down to a straight choice between Marc Bartra and Jeremy Mathieu with Mascherano destined to deputise in midfield for the injured Sergio Busquets. The performance on Saturday from the young Bartra may get him the nod ahead of the experience of the Frenchman.
Bartra already has played five games in the group stages of this competition and should be the better option to deal with Sergio Aguero. With Dani Alves and Alba returning to the full back positions, the flanks will be well marshalled and Marc-Andre ter Stegen will again take over from Claudio Bravo in goal to continue his steady progress in the cup competitions.
While all the plaudits have recently gone to the attacking trident of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, only three opposition sides have managed to score more than once in those 18 games since the turn of the year and Barcelona won all those games.
City are in shaky form coming into the tie but when the referee’s whistle is blown for kickoff that will be quickly forgotten, and last week’s Champions League ties proved anything can happen.
A crazy end to end match like the 4-3 win Schalke took from Real Madrid is not in Barca’s interests, but there is no team in the world better at controlling the pace and rhythm of a game from the start so expect a repeat of the first half in Manchester with the home side dominating possession.
A midfield made up by Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic alongside Mascherano will provide that control, meaning the only change from the side that won the first leg would be Mathieu or Bartra in for Busquets.
This is all guess work, of course, and Enrique may spring a surprise with Real Madrid’s Sunday visit in mind.
Enrique’s strategy all season to rotate his squad and rest players at specific intervals should find his men at peak fitness to face two big games in four days. Only Messi could complain about playing too much but he would not have it any other way.
source:espnfc.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 