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Chelsea beware: Why this version of Barcelona are so dangerous

While the center of this Barcelona side has stayed steady for 10 years now, the club has experienced a patch up under new director Ernesto Valverde that has achieved extraordinary outcomes.

He hasn’t possessed the capacity to just proceed with crafted by Luis Enrique, not slightest on account of urgent staff changes in the squad, and the achievement he has had so far ought not be thought little of.

Best of La Liga, in the Copa del Rey last and one of the top choices to win this present season’s Champions League, another notable treble is still on the cards. This is the way they have done it.

Facing everyday life after Neymar

Ousmane Dembele was acquired as Neymar’s substitution however genuine thigh damage constrained an early difference in tack. There was no one else in the squad fit for assuming that part, so Valverde changed to a 4-4-2.

With one arm gone from the much-dreaded Messi-Suarez-Neymar trident, the test has been making chances for the two in advance when adversaries have one less assailant to stress over.

Messi and Suarez remain a dangerous duo even without Neymar CREDIT: REUTERS

Between them, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have 37 alliance objectives this season; whatever remains of the squad have 22. They have gone up against the additional obligation, and the group has discovered another approach to get the a large portion of them.

They protect further and see less of the ball

The course of action has moved: never again is this the tiki-taka Barcelona of the Pep Guardiola period, nor is it the MSN-drove, assault overwhelming group of later years. Presently Barcelona’s midfield sits further.

They surrender ownership more than previously, with Barcelona’s normal offer allied recreations at its most reduced in any of the last 10 seasons, and just about nine for each penny down on the pinnacle of 2010/11.

Groups are never again put on “the passing merry go round” that Sir Alex Ferguson so notably alluded to, when Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets were relatively difficult to confiscate.

Despite everything they see a ton of the ball, yet there is detectably less accentuation on squeezing wildly to win the ball back as fast as could reasonably be expected and after that keep it as long as important to crush adversaries down. Barcelona are progressively agreeable out of ownership, as well.

Messi still does the business

There has dependably been a dependence on Messi (which is sufficiently reasonable), however it is telling that the quantity of touches he is having has expanded on last season regardless of a noteworthy drop in the group’s general ownership.

He is assuming a more huge part than any other time in recent memory and when Barcelona take care of business the ball they look to him if at all conceivable.

His touch outline the amusement against Real Madrid in December demonstrates how much permit he is provide for wander, something Chelsea will be urgent to guarantee he isn’t permitted to do this evening.

The outcomes are amazing

Barcelona are really confronting a bigger number of shots than in some other late battle – 10.58 for each match – however the quantity of shots on target they are confronting has not expanded, and is only 3.21 for every diversion.

Rivals are thinking that its harder to fashion a reasonable sight of objective against a Barcelona side that are set up to protect, and they have surrendered only 11 objectives in 24 association recreations this season, 15 less than Real Madrid. They let in just a single objective in six Champions League bunch arrange recreations, including two clean sheets against Juventus.

In spite of the fact that the loss of Neymar has seen a drop in the quantity of objectives they are scoring, it has not implied any less achievement – a lot of which is down to that more solid guard, something they have not generally been known for.

Barcelona sit seven focuses clear at the highest point of La Liga and are adjusting phenomenally to life after Neymar. Chelsea will have their work slice out to stop them.

What are the odds?

  • Chelsea win – 14/5
  • Barcelona win – 11/10
  • Draw – 5/2