7 Reasons to Believe Barcelona Are Spain's Best Chance of Champions League Glory
Barcelona resume their bid for Champions League glory in fine fettle and with the internal wranglings and bad blood from a few weeks ago now a distant memory.
Fellow La Liga representatives Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have begun to stutter at a crucial time while the Blaugrana continue to dismantle any XI put before them.
At this point, you can't look past the Catalans as being Spanish football's best chance of securing the trophy.
Let's take a look at seven reasons why...
Current Form
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Barca can have no qualms about any aspect of their current form.
Since the loss against David Moyes' Real Sociedad side at the turn of the year, the Blaugrana have swept all before them.
They are playing with a verve and panache that not even Pep Guardiola's much lauded Bayern Munich side can emulate at the moment.
Almost certainly the team to beat at this juncture.
Defensive Solidity
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In general terms, the attacking side of Luis Enrique's team always seems to generate the headlines.
It's about time that the back line nudge their peers aside because Barca have been astonishingly good in that department of late.
Marc Bartra's performance against Levante typified the confidence within which the defensive unit are working at the moment.
A unit where Gerard Pique has, after a shaky start this season, been literally head and shoulders above his contemporaries.
Just remind yourself of the goals-conceded column to get a flavour of how just good the Catalans have been defensively.
Experience
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There isn't another team in the competition that can boast as good a recent Champions League record as the Catalans.
Since the 2007-08 season, Barca have got to the semifinals in every season bar last year when Atletico Madrid knocked them out in the quarterfinals.
It's an enviable record and one that will hold them in good stead in the latter stages of this seasons competition.
Messi, Neymar and Suarez
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When you have a front line as good as Barcelona have, then you have got to be in with a chance of bringing home some silverware.
Real Madrid's front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have tailed off just recently, whereas Barca's own triumvirate continue to go from strength to strength.
If they are not scoring themselves, then they are setting up one or the other, as noted by FCBarcelona.com.
A well-oiled, relentless machine.
Flexibility
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It seems a long time ago now that Luis Enrique was the butt of incessant criticism.
His side look fresh and ready for battle in every game, and recent results speak for themselves.
Although comments on his rotation policy were barbed, Lucho appears to have had the last laugh. Barca are the only Spanish side still alive in all competitions at this point of the season.
Furthermore, his flexibility in changing around formation and style as well as personnel has paid dividends.
Who can forget the social media explosion when it was revealed that Pedro could be playing as a wing-back against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stages. Yet it won Barca the game.
It might well win them the trophy.
Playing Without Fear
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One of the most notable facets of Barca's play at present is a lack of fear going into every game.
Each player is expressing themselves fully, and the rewards are clear for all to see.
There is much to be said for playing without pressure, something which isn't too easily achieved. For example, teams that set up to not lose a game often end up doing exactly that.
Even if they've gone behind in games, look how quickly the Catalans have reacted to come straight back against the opposition.
No reticence, no sitting back and no fear. No problem.
Peaking at the Right Time
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How many times have we heard the phrase "it's a marathon, not a sprint"?
A couple of dodgy results aside Barca have had a decent season, and the fruits of early-season labour can now begin to be seen.
Football clubs that are aiming for silverware should always be looking to peak in February/March time and that is exactly what Barcelona are doing.
Gone and forgotten are the results against Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad, replaced with a genuine optimism that something special can be achieved this season.
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