Barcelona has once again found itself in contention for both a Champions League and a La Liga title. The latter is most thanks in part to Real Madrid’s highly unexpected draw last week with Villarreal combined with Barcelona’s win over Granada.
But unlike in previous years, the inconsistency the club has shown at times – along with the rumors about ongoing issues between the coach and the team’s biggest stars – has created distractions and kept people wondering about the future of this current roster. One bright spot that has emerged in recent weeks is Luis Suarez, who has been an absolute beast in his first year among the Catalans.
Suarez has scored 10 goals with 13 assists in 24 games this season and he was the difference maker in a 3-1 win over Granada this past weekend when he scored one and set up another. Lionel Messi is still the main man and Neymar has looked good when healthy, but it could be Suarez that represents the key to Barcelona’s season and just how much they are able to accomplish.
Pushing The Pace
What stood out the most about this past weekend’s game was the way Suarez shined and really pushed the Catalan side forward in an ugly win. The pretty passing we had witnessed from Barcelona just a couple of days earlier in their 2-1 win over Manchester City was suddenly not an option with Granada looking to shut things down and play an ugly game but Suarez helped make sure they got the maximum three points. Suarez was all over the defense and forced what was ultimately the game-winning goal before setting up Messi for a third after Granada had pulled within one on a penalty kick. Barcelona lacked the fluent pace and creativity it had shown in other games but they found a way to get the job done and Suarez led the way.
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Suarez The Tone-Setter
Suarez wasn’t alone in making the difference in an ugly win but he definitely sets the tone. Ivan Rakitic played one of his best games in Barcelona colors and once they took the 3-1 lead they were able to close things out with an efficient final 20 minutes to lock up an important three points.
Unlike some of Barcelona’s other players, Rakitic and Suarez really seem to understand how to move forward in such an ugly game and not once did they appear flustered by the Granada defenders. Suarez is the type of low maintenance striker that can turn a game around at a moments notice and his ability to hold up the ball and then push the pace of the attack in the ugliest of fashions is actually a very important weapon. That’s something Barca will rely on as they continue to chase Real Madrid for top spot in the La Liga standings.
Does That Make Messi Expendable?
That win alone showed how important of a presence Suarez has up front and how much more dangerous Barcelona is when he is healthy and in the lineup. Whether or not that influences the club to think that anybody else is expendable is another story. It’s no secret that Messi has been unhappy with the team’s structure and the style of new manager Luis Enrique, and the latest reports were that they are not on speaking terms.
Messi’s name came up a lot in rumors of a potential move to Manchester United, Manchester City or even Chelsea during the January transfer window but nothing materialized. With Messi’s status beyond this season in question, Suarez is more key to Barcelona’s immediate and long term success than most would have guessed when he first signed with the club. While it looks like a Big Three right now and some believe the frontlines have been crowded, management knows that this depth could turn from a luxury to a necessity if Messi departs.
