FC Barcelona and their star players, Lionel Messi and Neymar, have blown hot and cold so far this season. We break down the first-half of their La Liga campaign.
The Catalan club started their season in an upbeat mood and put on some terrific footballing displays. Luis Enrique got very little wrong in his first two months and the club only dropped two points in their first eight matches, not conceding a single goal in the process. What was even more impressive was that Lionel Messi and Neymar were starting to click as a partnership upfront and goals were flowing freely.
However, with the club topping the table and, on the weekend that Luis Suarez was set to make his debut, the Catalans faced their first real test of the season in the form of rivals Real Madrid. The match ended in defeat and it resulted in talk of crisis at the club - which worsened after they lost their very next game against Celta Vigo.
The team did manage to recover their form though, dropping only two points for the rest of 2014, but talk of crisis in the media returned after a loss to Real Sociedad in the first match of the new year.
However, it would appear that Lionel Messi has returned to his best form and the little Argentine now boasts a tally of 19 goals and eight assists for the season so far. Neymar has accumulated 12 goals and three assists.
But it is Barcelona’s defence, above everything else, that deserves the highest order of praise. Only nine goals have been conceded in 19 matches this season, which is the best defensive record in La Liga for over 20 years.
Luis Enrique’s men are only one point off of the top of the table (Real Madrid also have a game in hand though), and it is still very possible that they could go on to claim the La Liga title once again.
They are also still in the running for the Copa Del Rey, as well as the UEFA Champions League - so if they can continue to improve through the season, and have a bit of luck on their side, dreams of a treble could come to fruition.
Barcelona are currently second in La Liga, with 44 points from the 19 games played.
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