Luis Suarez Brace Cannot Mask Barcelona Complacency in Champions League Win

There can be no doubting that Luis Suarez was the star of the show for Barcelona in their Champions League victory at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Uruguayan's two goals were sublime. When you pay top dollar for a player, world-class finishing is what is expected, and now that he's found his feet at Barca, Suarez is delivering exactly that.

All of the so-called "experts" that suggested there was no way he could fit into Barca's system to any great degree are beginning to look just a little bit stupid now.

Johan Cruyff, never one to shirk an opinion, noted in his De Telegraaf column (h/t Marca):

"

I can't see how Barca intends to continue playing the same way, with a keen focus on team play if Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are in the side. The three of them are too individual.

In signing him (Suarez), the club are showing a preference for individual genius over a team that plays great football.

"

It is to Suarez's absolute credit that he has adapted his game to complement those of Neymar and Lionel Messi, and moreover, still be as potent a striker as ever.

Bearing in mind that he missed the first three months of the season and then took another three to get going, in reality, his 18 goals in all competitions deserves appreciation.

Eleven goals in his last 11 games stretching back to and including the game at Manchester City, per WhoScored.com, is a sign of a player in form and enjoying his football.

"

Luis Suarez has now scored 11 goals in his last 11 competitive matches for Barcelona #fcblive [via @whoscored]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) April 16, 2015"

He is certainly playing a full part and deserves his place in what is shaping up to be Barcelona's most successful front three ever.

The Messi-Thierry Henry-Samuel Eto'o triumvirate, by popular decree Barca's best ever, managed 100 goals in all competitions in 2009, while the current triplet are already on 91 with a minimum of nine games left to play.

MANU FERNANDEZ/Associated Press

Given the above, you would expect Luis Enrique to be completely happy, but there was enough to concern him in the PSG game.

Until Xavi's second-half introduction, for example, Barca were unusually sloppy in their passing for large periods of the game.

"

Xavi played 38 minutes and made 55 passes, more than any PSG player the whole game #EternalMaestro http://t.co/qFyocwI6fn

— allasFCB (@allas4) April 15, 2015"

The tendency to break forward en masse should also have been exposed by the French champions.

On at least three occasions, the PSG midfield had the freedom of the Parc des Princes to drive forward centrally, with most of Barca's midfield and, at times, back line either committed higher up the pitch or out wide as cover.

On another day, there was easily two or three goals to be had. And three goals in the return leg will, in fact, see the French side through to the next round if they can lock up shop themselves.

For those willing to decry the notion that the worst could happen, consider this. Back in 2007, the Camp Nou was lit up by Messi's "Maradona" goal. It was the high point of a comprehensive 5-2 semi-final first-leg victory over Getafe in the Copa del Rey.

Barca's complacency of already thinking they had one foot in the final then saw them undone 4-0 in the return and sent packing from the competition.

Earlier this season, both Celta Vigo and Malaga pitched up at Camp Nou. Whipping boys supposedly. It wasn't just a matter of three points but how many Barca would score.

As it happened, their complacency and lack of focus saw them unable to score in either game against dogged opposition.

With the greatest of respect to all three of those teams, and there are other examples, PSG are a cut above.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Thiago Silva will be a big loss for them if not fully recovered, but the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti should see a much more vibrant and purposeful opponent in the second leg.

Three unanswered goals isn't entirely beyond the realms of possibility either...