Barcelona: Full Report Card for Every Position for September
Barcelona carried on in September where they left off in August. A lacklustre performance against Malaga aside, Luis Enrique should be proud of the efforts of his players.
Jeremy Mathieu in particular has looked rock solid at the back, while Ivan Rakitic continues to go from strength to strength in midfield.
September also saw the official debuts of right-back Douglas and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Here's a report card detailing how well each player fared over the course of September, with grades quantifying their contribution over the period.
Goalkeepers
1 of 9
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Grade: C
It is difficult to grade Marc-Andre ter Stegen any higher, given he has only taken part in two games this month against APOEL and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
The only shot that required saving against APOEL came in injury time at the end of what was probably the quietest 90 minutes on a football pitch the German has ever had.
PSG was an entirely different kettle of fish, and he was squarely at fault for Marco Verratti's headed goal.
Looking nervous throughout, it's probably not quite the start the he was dreaming of to his Barca career.
Claudio Bravo
Grade: A+
Claudio Bravo has positioned himself as Luis Enrique's first choice between the sticks, and that he hasn't conceded any goals tells its own story.
Dropped for the visit of APOEL, Bravo was commanding and decisive when called upon in the games against Athletic Bilbao and Malaga.
Right-Backs
2 of 9
Grade: B+
Dani Alves has found himself in the unusual position of being rotated during the month, missing both the visit of Athletic Bilbao and the trip to Malaga.
When called upon, however, he has continued to provide the excellence and work rate for which he is renowned.
His crossing has generally been on point, and his pass for Lionel Messi's first goal against Granada was sublime.
He continues to patrol the right flank with menace and purpose, and if he is sold at the conclusion of this season, the Catalans look very light in the position in terms of cover.
Martin Montoya
Grade: C+
Martin Montoya has been used sparingly to this point, and it does appear that as long as Dani Alves is fit, the Brazilian will get the nod.
The young Spaniard doesn't tend to impress in the position when given the opportunity, which makes it an easy decision for the manager to reinstall the more experienced Alves.
Too hesitant in possession and wasteful in his crossing, Montoya needs to improve significantly to ensure a regular starting berth for the rest of the season.
Douglas
Grade: C
A few eyebrows were raised when Brazilian Douglas was signed as cover for the right-back position, per Goal.com.
Only given the opportunity to impress against Malaga, Douglas was steady if unspectacular on his debut and replaced by compatriot Adriano Correia on 73 minutes.
Left-Backs
3 of 9
Jordi Alba
Grade: B
Jordi Alba has set about his business in exactly the same way as usual, but he will need to curb his wanderlust against the better sides in La Liga and in Europe, as the game against PSG proved.
With a wonderful engine, Alba needs to understand his primary role is to defend. That tends to be overshadowed by his desire to get forward at every opportunity.
When he provides assists in the manner he did at Levante, it's hard to criticise, but Adriano Correia patently offers a better defensive presence than his contemporary.
Adriano
Grade: B
Adriano got his first chance to impress Luis Enrique in the Champions League tie against APOEL.
As per his usual standard of performance, the Brazilian was dependable and comfortable in possession of the football.
Only 17 minutes at the end of the Malaga game was a tough reward for his industry during his previous outing, but an accomplished match against Granada will have restored some personal pride.
Centre-Backs
4 of 9
Gerard Pique
Grade: B
Much the same as his performances throughout August, Gerard Pique had a mixed month in September.
Scorer of the winner against APOEL, Pique was on the subs bench for both the Athletic Bilbao and Levante matches, a tactic that certainly worked because Pique was head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch in the following game against Malaga.
Pique was omitted from the Granada matchday squad and was an unused sub against PSG, suggesting Luis Enrique feels that there is still much room for improvement.
Jeremy Mathieu
Grade: A+
Barcelona's best defender this season. Where others have looked edgy, Jeremy Mathieu has commanded his area of the pitch.
Superb in the air, quick over the ground and providing a supplementary presence in attack, the biggest compliment that the ex-Valencia man can be paid is that no one is talking about his age and what he brings to the party anymore.
A proper old-school centre back, he is exactly what Barca have been lacking. PSG wasn't his best performance, but he can be forgiven for having one off day.
Marc Bartra
Grade: B+
Marc Bartra has at least got some minutes under his belt this season, rather than warming the bench for extended periods.
When called upon, the youngster certainly hasn't disgraced himself, but there's still something missing from his all-round game.
He could certainly do no worse than learning from new-boy Mathieu, and with no goals conceded while he's been on patrol, Bartra can be happy with his work in September.
Defensive Midfielders
5 of 9
Javier Mascherano
Grade: B+
Replaced at half-time in the Athletic Bilbao game after a nasty knock, Javier Mascherano has reverted to a central-defensive position for much of September.
Caught out of position on a couple of occasions, he has made amends by getting back and making the tackle, but could age be catching up with El Jefecito?
He has done what's been necessary.
Sergio Busquets
Grade: A+
Will there ever be a time when we talk about Sergio Busquets being surplus to requirements?
Everything he does oozes simplicity and class. There can't be a more unsung player in world football who gets through the amount of dirty work that Busquets does to ensure his more celebrated team mates take the plaudits.
He was disappointing in Paris but otherwise rarely put a foot wrong in September.
Sergi Samper
Grade: A+
The first Barca academy graduate ever to play in every Barcelona side from the U6 level to the first team, Samper could have done no more on his official first-team debut.
Against APOEL Nicosia, Samper looked like he'd been playing in the position for years, and with 119 touches, per WhoScored.com, he was busier than anyone else on the pitch.
A 93 per cent pass accuracy was the icing on the cake. Stunning.
Attacking Midfielders
6 of 9
Andres Iniesta
Grade: A
Aside from the first hour against APOEL and the visit of Granada, Andres Iniesta has been a permanent fixture on the left side of Barca's midfield.
As per, Barca's captain fantastic has continued going about his work quietly but efficiently throughout the month and was unlucky not to find himself on the scoresheet.
Xavi
Grade: B+
He may be winding down his career but Xavi still has the ability to affect any game in which he plays.
You only need look at the build-up to Lionel Messi's first goal against Granada to see Xavi's influence. His stunning 50-yard cross-field peach of a ball straight to Dani Alves was poetry in motion.
A peripheral figure for most of September, it's a joy to watch him in action when he is given the opportunity.
The body might not be as quick but the brain anymore, but there will still be better days ahead for Barca's elder statesman.
A record 143rd Champions League appearance was a fine book end to the month.
Ivan Rakitic
Grade: A+
Ivan Rakitic opened his Barca account with a stunning right-foot piledriver against Levante, add in a header that a centre-forward would have been proud of against Granada, and the Croatian has been the dominant midfielder so far this season.
As openings to a season at a new employer go, things couldn't really be much better.
In fact, he has been involved in play more than any other La Liga player so far, according to Marc Peiron of WeLoBa:
"Leads the ranking of players with more passes in La Liga (stats by LFP). In particular, he has made 226.
Barca, in fact, is very present in this ranking, because they occupy the first four positions: Rakitic (226), Alves (219), Jordi Alba (197) and Busquets (182).
"
As with one or two others, he didn't have his best game against PSG, but he will surely prove to be the bargain of the season if he carries on in the same vein.
Sergi Roberto
Grade: B-
Given a decent run out against APOEL and Granada, Sergi Roberto is still finding it difficult to nail down a regular starting berth.
You have to question a player's ambition to fight for a place if they can't break into the side on a continuous basis, but Roberto seems more than comfortable, having signed a new contract that ties him to the club until 2019, per FCBarcelona.com.
He was an unused sub in Paris.
Rafinha
Grade: B-
Another player who hasn't really featured during September, it won't be too long you would think before Thiago's younger sibling Rafinha is knocking on doors.
At this stage, his route to the first-team promised land seems a possible.
Barring any serious injuries to other players, however, this could be a long, hard season for Rafinha.
Wingers
7 of 9
Neymar
Grade: A+
Neymar has enjoyed a great September, opening the month with a well-taken brace against Athletic Bilbao.
Another goal against Levante, a hat-trick against Granada and a superbly taken goal in Paris was a just reward for the much more industrious ethic from the Brazilian we are seeing this season.
Neymar has been constantly involved, rather than being on the periphery of games, and as such, his work ethic has been noticeable.
Excellent link-up play has been another feature during some wonderful personal performances.
Pedro Rodriguez
Grade: B-
A goal for Pedro in a, quite frankly, predictable 5-0 hammering of Levante is as good as it's got for one of Barca's favourite sons this September.
Unfairly, Pedro is judged against his past glories, but he clearly needs to up his game if he wants to get anywhere close to the starting XI once Luis Suarez is fit.
On current form, omitting him would be an easy decision for Luis Enrique.
Centre-Forwards
8 of 9
Lionel Messi
Grade: A+
Different month, same old Lionel Messi.
Man of the match in the games against Athletic Bilbao, APOEL, Levante, Granada and PSG, the Argentine either scored or assisted in each, creating havoc wherever he roamed.
You run out of superlatives to describe Messi because it doesn't seem to matter where he is placed on the pitch and what role he is asked to undertake, he is still the most dangerous player on the field.
The Malaga game aside, September has been all about Leo Messi. A month during which he scored his 400th goal in professional football at 27 years of age.
Munir El Haddadi
Grade: B
After bursting onto the scene last month, the inevitable circus that surrounded Munir's rise has begun to dissipate a little.
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, the youngster has worked hard, and his movement and interplay speaks of someone who will be a mainstay of this Barca side in the very near future.
His cameo against PSG gave us a great insight into the fearlessness the youngster has when he takes to the field. He was unlucky not to get a goal to tie the game in Paris, the ball hitting the woodwork.
Sandro Ramirez
Grade: B+
A goal six minutes after replacing Neymar against Levante was another case of right place right time for Sandro.
Just as he always does for Barca B, Sandro has an enviable knack of finding time and space, often when they're at a premium. A silent assassin, you could say.
The minutes he received during September's games will only boost his confidence.
Coaching
9 of 9
Luis Enrique
Grade: A
Luis Enrique maintained his wonderful start to the job, with the last-day-of-the-month defeat in Paris the only blemish during his time in charge.
Call it luck, call it fate or call it just good management, but everything continues to slot nicely into place for the manager.
Squad rotation has worked wonderfully well, never more so than Gerard Pique's response to being dropped for the first time in an absolute age.
Restored to the side during the latter part of the month, Pique responded with a man-of-the-match performance. One-nil to the manager.
Three tough games against APOEL, Malaga and Granada were seen out without a goal being conceded.
More of the same please, Lucho.
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