3 reasons why Barcelona can do the Champions League and LaLiga double this season
Barcelona are still in the hunt for their sixth UEFA Champions League and their first under Ernesto Valverde.
Lionel Messi had promised the fans before the beginning of the 2018-19 season that the team would do everything in their power to bring the trophy back to Camp Nou. After their humiliating loss against AS Roma in the semifinal stage of the competition, the fans needed that reassurance.
The Argentine looked like he was all set to deliver on his promise, but history repeated itself as Barca went down against Liverpool in similar fashion.
The Catalans have been a supreme force when it comes to LaLiga, as they have been crowned champions eight times in the last 11 years. But their main focus this year would be the UCL, and Barcelona are showing signs that they can finally end the curse and win the double this season.
Here we take a look at 3 reasons why Barcelona can do the Champions League and LaLiga double this season.
#3 The squad is perfectly balanced
Barcelona finally have the balance they have been craving for. With the addition of Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, Junior Firpo, Ansu Fati and Carles Perez, Barca are stacked in all positions.
The Catalans struggled last season as they had no backup for Jordi Alba, who looked weary towards the end of the season. But Ernesto Valverde has rectified that by signing Real Betis' highly rated left back Junior Firpo.
De Jong has been bossing Barca's midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and Arthur. The Dutch international has integrated himself into the squad so well that it seems like he has been playing here for a decade. De Jong has set the bar of competition so high that even Ivan Rakitic is struggling to find a place in the starting XI.
Meanwhile, Griezmann alongside Fati and Perez took control of Blaugrana's front line when Lionel Messi was sidelined and Luis Suarez was firing blanks. Now that Messi is back to his prime and the Uruguayan is regaining his lost form, Barca's attacking options (along with Ousmane Dembele) seem frightening.
Also check out: La Liga La Liga fixtures La liga table 2019-20