Barcelona: Full Report Card for Every Position for November
November 2014 has been a great month for Barcelona although it couldn't have started in a worse fashion.
Celta Vigo's visit to Camp Nou opened proceedings, and the Galicians promptly walked away with all three points. Well deserved they were, too.
In hindsight, it's probably the best thing that could've happened to Barca, who've been on the rampage ever since.
Four away wins in the other five games is league-winning form and has kept them on the coat-tails of free-scoring Real Madrid.
Goalkeepers
1 of 9
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Grade: A
Despite only being utilised as Barca's Champions League keeper, which must be a personal disappointment, Ter Stegen has acquitted himself well.
Two games in the month and two clean sheets is evidence of a significant improvement, and the young German has performed with aplomb whenever called upon.
The ease with which his skill set fits with the Barca ethic is ever more noticeable, and the keeper can only get better.
Claudio Bravo
Grade: A+
Still the go-to guy as far as the manager as concerned and still more than justifying his position in the team.
Hasn't been at fault for any of the paltry amount of goals that Barca have conceded and continues to go about his work in the most professional of manners.
Quick to react to, and deal with, any approaching danger, Claudio Bravo's composure and ability is one of the main reasons why the Catalans have conceded so few in the league this season.
Two stunning saves from Alvaro Negredo and Sofiane Feghouli in the Valencia match detail his excellence between the sticks.
Right-Backs
2 of 9
Dani Alves
Grade: A-
Luis Enrique has continued with his rotation of Dani Alves for the second month running.
Considering that the Brazilian has been at the top of his game throughout the month, the decision to tinker by Luis Enrique is an interesting one.
He appears to have seen off the challenge of both deputies for his position, thanks to his incessant work-rate; he needs to be just a little less wasteful with his crossing.
A couple of needless bookings during the month have taken the shine from his performances.
Adriano
Grade: B-
Nominally a left-back, Adriano Correia has only deputised in that position once during November. Three times Luis Enrique thought it more pertinent that Alves' fellow Brazilian should fill in at right-back rather than Martin Montoya or Douglas.
The ambidextrous Adriano has, of course, slotted seamlessly into position when required but has yet to dominate the flank in the same way as his contemporary.
Good, but not great.
Left-Backs
3 of 9
Jordi Alba
Grade: A-
Has worked hard to improve upon his performances from the previous month and even capped a tidy individual performance against Almeria with the winner.
Aside from a Lionel Messi masterclass, Alba was the best player on the pitch in the Amsterdam Arena against Ajax.
He got into a great position against Sevilla to add another to the goals for column but sent his effort wide. It was the culmination of a fantastic team move and would've been a wonderful goal had it nestled in the onion bag.
Alba managed to score at the wrong end in the same game, but in truth he could do little about it.
He was booked against his old employers but proved defensively sound throughout the month. More of the same please.
Centre-Backs
4 of 9
Gerard Pique
Grade: A
Just the two games for Pique during November, as Luis Enrique has continued to use him sparingly.
He was rock-solid against Sevilla apart from where he allowed the attacker to drift past him far too easily to get a cross in which led to the equaliser.
Similarly against Valencia, Pique was, literally, head and shoulders above the competition.
The defender needs a run of games to get back some fitness.
Jeremy Mathieu
Grade: B+
Mathieu was completely bamboozled by the skill of Nolito and finish from Joaquin Larrivey at home to Celta Vigo and although he was booked against Sevilla, it was a minor irritant given his overall performance in the match.
He was booked against Valencia for a needless challenge and substituted toward the latter stages.
Mathieu remains a formidable opponent but has seen a slight drop-off in his performance level from the previous month.
Marc Bartra
Grade: A-
Super assist for Lionel Messi's goal in Amsterdam. His strength and persistence crucial to the outcome of the move.
He was left for dead when Almeria opened the scoring on the counter, but the entire Barca team had pushed too far up so no individual blame should be attached to Bartra.
The young defender had little to do in the Champions League match in Cyprus but acquitted himself well when needed.
Defensive Midfielders
5 of 9
Javier Mascherano
Grade: A
The Argentinian has only managed to play in his more natural role just once during the month, Luis Enrique preferring to place "Masche" in central defence.
Both roles are fulfilled with the necessary degree of excellence we have come to expect with the Argentinian.
Mascherano was out-jumped in the lead-up to the Celta Vigo winner—the only real blot on an otherwise excellent November copybook.
Sergio Busquets
Grade: A
Another solid month from Mr. Dependable, albeit he was caught out for pace and positioning on one or two occasions.
Has to be the first name down in the midfield when in this sort of form, and it's really no surprise that Barca continue to concede so few goals when they have Busquets protecting the defence.
It may have escaped the notice of some but the histrionics that have peppered his game in the past seem to have disappeared. Not before time it must be said.
He was in the right place at the right time at Mestalla to secure Barca a vital three points.
Attacking Midfielders
6 of 9
Xavi
Grade: B+
Came on against Almeria and we saw a few glimpses of his genius in a quite tedious overall performance.
Played well enough against Sevilla to not have to take the early bath, but rest now should pay dividends later.
Every Champions League appearance now sets another record, so his cameo at APOEL edged him ever closer to the 150-appearance mark in the competition.
Rounded off the month with a workmanlike performance at Valencia but was again benched late on.
Ivan Rakitic
Grade: B+
Capped a fine performance against his old employers Sevilla with a headed goal but contrast that with a disappointing run out against APOEL for which he was rightfully hauled off by Luis Enrique.
Was one of the best players for the Catalans in the disappointing team performance against Almeria, and fully justified his selection. However, he failed to make the starting XI against Valencia despite Andres Iniesta's continued absence.
Out of sorts when he did come on, the Croatian needs to find his mojo again. Quickly.
Rafinha
Grade: C
Played the full game in Almeria. Was steady but nothing to write home about in truth.
Needless red card in the game against APOEL, which will curtail his time on the pitch in the latter stages of the Champions League.
A late cameo at Valencia shows he still has much to learn.
Wingers
7 of 9
Neymar
Grade: A+
Neymar continues to go from strength to strength in Blaugrana.
Twice hitting the woodwork against Celta, his half-time appearance at Almeria helped change the course of the game, and his opener in that one was enough to build a platform to go on and win the match.
A great header against Sevilla gave the lead back to Barca as soon as the visitors had cancelled out Messi's early free kick, and his assist for Messi's record-breaking goal in the same game is a sign of his maturity.
His movement has also been a joy throughout. Dangerous and hungry—think the 94th-minute header in Valencia—this is the face of Neymar that Barca fans have been waiting to see.
Pedro Rodriguez
Grade: B-
It's been a busy month for Pedro, who has taken part in every game during November.
He hasn't managed to get on the scoresheet himself, but assists in both Champions League games have been invaluable.
Although he has had minutes, his appearances are often fleeting, and it wouldn't be a surprise if the striker looks to ply his trade elsewhere soon.
Centre-Forwards
8 of 9
Lionel Messi
Grade: A+
Lionel Messi continues to be Barca's best player this season. And what a month he's had.
Hitting the woodwork against both Celta and Almeria was as close as he came to scoring in those particular games, but hat-tricks against both Sevilla and APOEL saw him simultaneously set new all-time marks for the most goals in both La Liga and the Champions League.
Another vintage month for Messi.
Grade: A
Despite not getting on the scoresheet in La Liga, there's little to reproach Luis Suarez for.
The offside decision against Valencia is symptomatic of his luck presently. The ball has hit the woodwork more times than we care to imagine, and there has been a body or foot in the way every time Suarez has sent a shot goalwards.
His finish against APOEL was the Suarez we know from his Liverpool days, and with multiple assists the Uruguayan certainly deserves his starting spot each week. The goals will come.
Munir El Haddadi
Grade: C
El Haddadi mainly spent November as an unused substitute but did at least get to start the game against Almeria.
He huffed and puffed during the game and with little reward.
His star has waned a little since the beginning of the season, but he's likely to get more chances as the season progresses.
Coaching
9 of 9
Luis Enrique
Grade: A
Luis Enrique has continued to steer the Barca ship ably through the waters.
An intelligent use of his squad has assured the Catalans of maximum points in all but one of the games during November, and that has allowed Enrique the breathing space needed after the back-to-back defeats at Madrid and then against Celta which opened up this month.
The highlight of the month must be the dismantling of Sevilla, a team that arrived at Camp Nou in fantastic form themselves but were then systematically taken apart by a consummate Barca performance.
The smash-and-grab at Mestalla was an acceptable performance, given the end result.
Another great few weeks for Lucho.
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