Why Neymar Has Barcelona Point to Prove vs. Sevilla in La Liga

Neymar watched Barcelona's clash against Almeria from the substitutes' bench knowing that if manager Luis Enrique put him on the pitch, he could improve the team.

The Brazilian star was rested after featuring for his country in the recent international break, Enrique said in his press conference after the game (h/t Sport).

However, anyone who watched Neymar play against Celta Vigo would be well within their rights to believe that the forward had simply been dropped for a poor performance.

And anyone who has watched him play over the last six weeks could be forgiven for thinking he's out of his depth.

We know that's not the case. Neymar has this season demonstrated that he has what it takes to decide games for Barcelona.

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Neymar has shown that he has the potential to succeed Lionel Messi at the club and be the jewel in the crown of this Barcelona side.

Messi's not going anywhere for a while, and it's doubtful whether Neymar could ever reach his level of ability—or if anyone could, given the Argentinian is a once-in-a-lifetime player.

Regardless, nobody needs convincing of Neymar's potential. In September and October, he went on a streak of 11 goals in 10 games. Through December, January and the start of February, he scored 10 in 10 games.

That is goalscoring form right up there with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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The problem is consistency. Those players do it throughout the season, barely letting up.

Messi went three games without scoring, which is a long time for him, before he ended that run against Almeria.

However, despite not netting against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Celta Vigo, he created goals for his team-mates in two of those games and generally played well.

Against Celta, he was recovering from a foot injury and can be pardoned for not contributing to his usual level.

Neymar's problem is that he has not only failed to score in seven of his last eight games but many of his other contributions have waned too.

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Regardless of whether it's him, Messi, Luis Suarez or anybody else putting the ball in the net, Neymar has a lot to offer Barcelona.

His speed terrifies defences—Neymar zipping through the gap between a right-back and centre-back is a common sight.

He unbalances and destabilises opponents with his physical attributes, while his ball skills are a way of psychologically taunting them too.

Most people imagined that Suarez would be the Barcelona player to aggravate opposing sides and their supporters this season, but it's been Neymar.

That's because he goes to ground a little too easily on occasion, and sometimes it's because he's made a fool of the defender with a nutmeg. Occasionally, he becomes a little too embroiled in this side of the game.

In the recent game against Real Madrid, we saw the best and worst of Neymar's game. His rapid surges forward in the second half helped tire Madrid, and he was a target for several fouls.

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However, his end product was lacking, and his missing a virtually open goal ended up with Madrid breaking away and scoring.

His tricks haven't been paying off lately, his first touch sloppy and his passing not as incisive.

This can't be neatly categorised as "Neymar is in bad form" because he did make a few key runs against Madrid. Perhaps it's better to say that he's not making as many as he should—as we know he can.

Maybe it is a confidence thing that comes and goes with the goals. If that's the case, Enrique should have played him against Almeria, against whom he could have filled his boots.

It was an uninspired display by Barcelona despite the score, and Neymar knows that he could have added fizz and spark.

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That is, of course, if the best version of Neymar had turned up. The one we've seen recently would be no better or worse than Pedro, who played in his stead.

It's likely he'll be recalled to the team against Sevilla on Saturday for what will be an extremely tough test for Barcelona.

It's over a year since Unai Emery's team were defeated at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan. If Barcelona are going to break that run, then they will need Neymar. The real Neymar.

And Neymar will want to show his manager that, like Messi, who has featured in the last 50 gameweeks, he is essential for Barcelona.