Barcelona will be disappointed to have missed out on signing Neymar. But, in hindsight, they had a pretty good transfer window, signing the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong. The Catalan outfit have now built a strong team that are more than capable of winning the UEFA Champions League.
However, it also sparked a lot of competition, and manager Ernesto Valverde will surely have a selection dilemma throughout the campaign. And in this article, we will figure out the strongest possible Barcelona lineup, including all of their new signings.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Defence
It is almost needless to say that Marc Andre ter Stegen is one of the best goalkeepers in world football. The German international is, therefore, a guaranteed pick in between the sticks for Barcelona, ahead of Neto. The Brazilian shot-stopper arrived from Valencia and is a good alternative for ter Stegen.
After a rough start to his career at Barcelona, Nelson Semedo is finally expected to become the club’s first-choice right-back this season, ahead of Sergi Roberto. The Portuguese international can offer pace on the flanks, but he needs to become a bit more consistent.
As for Jordi Alba, he is a guaranteed starter on the opposite flank. He does, however, have a new competitor in the shape of new signing Junior Firpo. The talented Dominican arrived from Real Betis and is sure to give Alba a run for his money.
And finally, the central defensive pairing will comprise of Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet. Pique, at the age of 32, is slowly nearing the end of his career. But, he is still a reliable defensive option and a leader at the back. Samuel Umtiti is the ideal alternative.
Midfield
It’s about time Barcelona switch to a double-pivot rather than sticking to a three-man midfield setup. Although the 4-3-3 offers them an additional man in midfield, the addition of highly talented Frenkie de Jong should be enough to plug that gap.
De Jong will be partnered by Sergio Busquets in the 4-2-3-1, with Arthur Melo and Ivan Rakitic present as additional options.
Attack
The 4-2-3-1 should allow Valverde to accomodate Ousmane Dembele into the starting lineup. The Frenchman will operate as the left-winger, with Griezmann moving into a central role. The ex-Atletico star can also join Luis Suarez upfront – making it look like a 4-4-2.
That means Griezmann could offer tactical flexibility. But, it is Lionel Messi who will be in charge of providing the spark in attack. The Argentine superstar scored 51 goals in all competitions last season, and he will be keen on improving on that tally this campaign.
