FC Barcelona: Player-by-Player Guide to Their 2013-14 La Liga Squad

With the new season set to get underway in less than a week, every club is rushing to make sure their squad is complete. Barcelona will again be competing in multiple competitions, meaning La Blaugrana’s squad will be more important than ever.

In this article we will take the time to look at each player in the Barcelona squad and what their role will be for the Catalan club this season.

Only players who will compete in the first-team will be listed, and note that all player statistics and information are courtesy of WhoScored.com and the club's official player database.

Victor Valdes

Name

Victor Valdes

Position

Goalkeeper

Player Profile

Valdes is known as a keeper who is more than comfortable with the ball at his feet. His ability to pass the ball has made him an invaluable player for Barcelona, but he is also known for making mistakes that can severely hurt the club.

Role in the Current Squad

The Catalan will again feature as the club’s starting keeper and will play a vital role in any success that the club achieves. Valdes has been a captain and starting keeper for La Blaugrana for several years now and that will not change this season.

Jose Pinto

Name

Jose Pinto

Position

Goalkeeper

Player Profile

Jose Pinto is known for making big saves at big moments. The 37-year-old veteran is able to step in when needed and knows how to lead a defense. However, like Valdes he is also prone to mistakes, but is also not nearly as strong a passer as his counterpart.

Role in the Current Squad

Pinto has been Barcelona’s backup keeper for several years now and has done a good job in his role. The Spanish keeper will again feature as the backup to Victor Valdes, but do not expect Pinto to feature in major matches outside of the Copa del Rey.

Oier Olazabal

Name

Oier Olazabal

Position

Goalkeeper

Player Profile

Olazabal will be spending his very first season with the first team after graduating from Barcelona’s fabled La Masia. The Basque keeper is a strong shot stopper and is able to pass the ball with proficiency, but is not able to lead a defense at this stage in his career.

Role in the Current Squad

The 23-year-old will likely not play a major role in the Catalan club. It is his first season in the senior squad and Olazabal will likely only feature in a few meaningless matches. Expect a possible move away from Barcelona in the future.

Dani Alves

Name

Dani Alves

Position

Right-back

Player Profile

The Brazilian right-back is known more for his forward runs than his defending. Alves is a very fast player who loves to cross the ball and link up with attackers, and normally uses his speed to make up for his defensive inefficiency.

Role in the Current Squad

Alves will again feature as the club’s starting right-back despite heavy competition from Martin Montoya. The Brazilian creates a dynamic pair with Lionel Messi when in attack but do not be surprised if Alves features in slightly fewer matches this season.

Martin Montoya

Name

Martin Montoya

Position

Right-back

Player Profile

Montoya is likely the natural successor to Dani Alves. The La Masia graduate has the ability to join in attack and is very comfortable doing so. Montoya may not be as offensively gifted as Alves, but he is a much better defender.

Role in the Current Squad

The Catalan is still trying to earn his place in the Barcelona squad and is the right-back of the future. Expect Montoya to feature in more games this season and for the 22-year-old to really push Dani Alves for the starting spot in the lineup.

Gerard Pique

Name

Gerard Pique

Position

Center-back

Player Profile

Pique is a tall defender who also likes to get forward whenever possible. His height allows for him to be a successful aerial defender and his speed also allows for him to handle most attackers, but the Catalan is known for making defensive errors that can cost the back line.

Role in the Current Squad

The 26-year-old is the only center-back whose starting role is guaranteed. Pique has been a mainstay in defense for several years now and will look to become the leader of the back line with Captain Carles Puyol taking a backseat this season.

Javier Mascherano

Name

Javier Mascherano

Position

Center-back

Player Profile

The Argentine began his career as a defensive midfielder before converting to a center-back under former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola. He is arguably the squad’s best tackler and a very calm defender, but still suffers from bad positioning at times.

Role in the Current Squad

Mascherano will be competing for the starting role beside Gerard Pique. Last season the 29-year-old made mistakes that led many to believe the club must buy a true defender, as he was not capable. Expect the Argentine to feature heavily, but not so much in the biggest games of the year.

Marc Bartra

Name

Marc Bartra

Position

Center-back

Player Profile

The Catalan defender may be young at only 22 years old, but he is a great all-around defender. Bartra is able to defend the ball in the air and has the combination of speed and positioning to one day become a world-class center-back.

Role in the Current Squad

Like Mascherano, Bartra will be competing for the starting center-back spot. Due to his recent international play, Bartra arguably deserves the starting role. He has everything needed to be a great defender but needs to play and be trusted to realize his potential.

Carles Puyol

Name

Carles Puyol

Position

Center-back

Player Profile

Puyol has always been the heartbeat of Barcelona. His willingness to sacrifice himself and be the leader has cost him dearly and the Captain just isn’t the player he used to be. Puyol has lost a step defensively but his leadership can never be taken for granted.

Role in the Current Squad

Do not expect Puyol to feature in important matches this season. The Catalan defender is coming off of another knee surgery and will probably never be considered a true starter ever again. He will play in minor matches but his leadership off the pitch will be just as valuable as ever.

Jordi Alba

Name:

Jordi Alba

Position:

Left-back

Player Profile:

Jordi Alba may be one of the fastest defenders in the world.  As a converted winger, Alba is great at getting forward to join the attack and has even become a goal scoring threat. Like Alves his forward runs often hurt him defensively but Alba has a knack for running down attackers.

Role in the Current Squad:

Like last season Jordi Alba will again feature as the starter opposite Dani Alves. His speed has become a necessary part of the Blaugrana lineup and his link-up play with Iniesta is deadly. Alba will play almost every game he is able to this year but he and Alves must learn how to control their runs as a unit.

Adriano

Name

Adriano

Position

Left-back, center-back or left-wing

Player Profile

Adriano is perhaps the most versatile player on Barcelona’s squad. The former winger features heavily as a left-back but has also been used a center-back as well. He likes to get forward and has a rocket of a shot that he loves to test the keeper with. The Brazilian is much better at timing his runs so as not to cost the back line, but is not a natural defender.

Role in the Current Squad

The 28-year-old will this year remain the club’s utility player. Adriano will step in wherever and whenever needed and do a decent job no matter the opponent, but do not expect the Brazilian to be a major player in the biggest matches.

Sergio Busquets

Name

Sergio Busquets

Position

Defensive midfielder

Player Profile

Busquets is perhaps the most important player in the Barcelona lineup. The Catalan is second-to-none when it comes to positioning and reading the game and is more than capable of building up play from the back. He rarely makes a mistake because Busquets is one of the smartest players in the game.

Role in the Current Squad

No doubt Busquets will feature as the starting defensive midfielder this season. He will again be the engine that all play runs through and the most important player on the pitch. Expect the Catalan to have a very good season, as it is rare for Busquets to have a bad game.

Alex Song

Name

Alex Song

Position

Defensive Midfielder

Player Profile

The Cameroonian is a strong midfielder capable of winning the ball back anywhere on the pitch. His size makes him a wall in front of the defense, and though he can get forward sometimes, his passing is not quite what it needs to be for Barcelona.

Role in the Current Squad

Song would start for almost any club in the world. At Barcelona, the 25-year-old backs up Sergio Busquets in the squad and seems to always fill in nicely when he does get on the pitch. Song will again be a backup this season, but expect him to have big showings when he does play.

Xavi

Name

Xavi

Position

Midfielder

Player Profile

Xavi is the brains of everything that happens on the pitch for Barcelona. He is one of the world’s best playmakers and knows how to pull the strings in the midfield to dictate all play. The 33-year-old may have lost a step or two but makes up for it with his ability to read the game.

Role in the Current Squad

Despite his age, Xavi will again be considered a starter in Barcelona’s more important fixtures. He will likely not play as many matches as previous seasons but will step onto the pitch when it matters most. He could also likely be named the new Captain.

Andres Iniesta

Name

Andres Iniesta

Position

Midfielder, Left-Wing

Player Profile

Other than Lionel Messi, Iniesta is the best player at Barcelona. He is technically gifted and able to pull defenders out of position while setting up his teammates to score. Iniesta keeps possession well and uses that ability to link up with the forwards to give defenders headaches.

Role in the Current Squad

Iniesta will surely be a starter for Barcelona this season and will likely play as many matches as possible. The 29-year-old continues to get better every season and is the player that help the forwards do what they do. Expect the Spanish international to again be the best player on the field besides Messi.

Cesc Fabregas

Name

Cesc Fabregas

Position

Midfielder, winger or center-forward

Player Profile

Fabregas can do a bit of everything. He is able to pass the ball and set up teammates but is also a threat in front of goal. He plays his best when behind the forwards but can also feature up front when needed. He adds a more direct style of play in the Tiki-Taka system but doesn’t quite use movement as well as his teammates.

Role in the Current Squad

With Xavi and Iniesta in midfield, Fabregas will again be the first backup on the squad. He will start several matches in a rotation system for the midfield but will likely not feature in the most important matches. He may also back up Lionel Messi this season but is clearly at his best in the midfield.

Sergi Roberto

Name

Sergi Roberto

Position

Midfielder

Player Profile

The 21-year-old is a technically gifted midfielder much in the mold of Andres Iniesta. He is able to pass the ball while also linking up well with forwards. He is always calm when in position and is slowly becoming a scoring threat in front of goal.

Role in the Current Squad

This will be Sergi Roberto’s first season with the Barcelona senior squad but expect him to feature quite a bit. With only four midfielders in the squad, Roberto will see the pitch a lot this season and will need to be at his best to earn an important role. Expect the Catalan to be very impressive this season and actually play in a few important matches.

Jonathan Dos Santos

Name

Jonathan Dos Santos

Position

Midfielder

Player Profile

The Mexican is a capable passer of the ball and always seems calm when on the pitch. However, he has never really been able to find his place at Barcelona. He is often a step behind the play but makes up for any mistakes with an incredible work rate.

Role in the Current Squad

Do not expect the 23-year-old to play an important role this season. Dos Santos only featured in three total matches last season and that trend will continue. He has never really looked as if he has a future with the club so do not be surprised if he leaves in the near future.

Pedro

Name

Pedro

Position

Winger

Player Profile

Pedro is not a typical winger. The 26-year-old does many things well and is perfect at supporting his teammates who are trying to score. He does the little things and keeps rhythm going, and can become a scoring threat when you least expect it.

Role in the Current Squad

Pedro will be fighting for a starting spot this season and may already be a favorite. His preseason has seen him regain his scoring ability after only netting nine times last season. The ability to do the little things and link up with teammates makes him very important, so expect Pedro to feature heavily this year.

Alexis Sanchez

Name

Alexis Sanchez

Position

Winger

Player Profile

The Chilean is one of the hardest working players in football. He always tracks back to defend and never gives up on a play. His ability to keep running makes him a constant problem for defenders, not to mention his knack for having several scoring chances per match.

Role in the Current Squad

Alexis Sanchez will be competing with Pedro for the last starting spot up front. The Chilean may be the leading candidate after this preseason which saw his scoring ability return after a dismal season last year. But above all else it is his work rate that makes Sanchez the likely starter to open the season.

Cristian Tello

Name

Cristian Tello

Position

Winger

Player Profile

Tello is the fastest winger in the Blaugrana squad and he knows how to use his pace. The Catalan is capable of beating almost any defender and gets off several shots per game. His shooting does need to improve but Tello has shown signs of that in recent months.

Role in the Current Squad

The 22-year-old is the third player in line for a starting spot but is trying to catch up to both Pedro and Alexis Sanchez. It is likely that Tello will back up Neymar this season, but the Catalan could earn a starting role if he continues improving at the pace he is.

Isaac Cuenca

Name

Isaac Cuenca

Position

Winger

Player Profile

Cuenca is a technically gifted winger who can do a bit of everything but is not really much of a goal scorer. He may not be the fastest player around but the Catalan is smart and rarely makes mistakes.

Role in the Current Squad

When Cuenca first joined the senior squad it seemed as though there was no ceiling for his potential. Since then, the winger has suffered multiple injuries and has not been able to continue developing as a player. Do not expect Cuenca to feature for Barcelona this season as he will likely leave on loan to try to resurrect his career.

Ibrahim Afellay

Name

Ibrahim Afellay

Position

Winger

Player Profile

Afellay is a natural winger who is able to link up well with other forwards and normally drifts inside to test the keeper. He is known for being able to shoot from distance but his passing is often a bit suspect in the Tiki-Taka system.

Role in the Current Squad

Like Cuenca, Afellay has suffered from several injuries which have never really allowed him to make his mark at Barcelona. Expect the Dutch international to leave on loan as well and likely never wear the Blaugrana shirt again.

Neymar

Name

Neymar

Position

Winger

Player Profile

Neymar is as complete a player as they come. He is able to pass the ball, create chances and is even a capable header. But the Brazilian is best known for flashy ball skills and ability to score unbelievable goals from almost anywhere on the pitch.

Role in the Current Squad

The 21-year-old will be an immediate starter in his first season with Barcelona. Expect Neymar to feature on the left-wing in as many games as possible and form an unstoppable attacking duo with Lionel Messi. Neymar’s Barcelona career begins this season so be ready for fireworks.

Lionel Messi

Name

Lionel Messi

Position

Forward, Striker, Winger, Midfielder—Basically anywhere he wants.

Player Profile

What can we say about Lionel Messi? The world’s best player can do it all and shows it every match. His scoring ability is unprecedented and his playmaking ability is just as impressive. Messi demands attention from defenders and always makes them pay.

Role in the Current Squad

Messi will again be everything Barcelona needs him to be. He will start nearly every game and score more goals than anyone else. But with Neymar at Messi’s side, expect the Argentine to also rack up a decent number of assists and have more freedom than in recent seasons.

What do you think of Barcelona’s squad this season? Who else should the club buy? How many trophies can La Blaugrana win this year? Leave your thoughts and comments below!

Tre’ Atkinson. Follow me on Twitter for more discussions on FC Barcelona and all Spanish football.

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