5 reasons why Barcelona will win the Champions League

2. Tactical versatility

Barcelona have been associated with fast-paced possession soccer for a number of years now, but if there was one criticism of them during their glory years, it was the lack of a Plan B.

Usually, their unrivalled quality was enough to overcome the challenge in front of them, but on occasion, a team with an incredibly low defensive block could stop them. In former boss Pep Guardiola’s final season, 2011/12, the Blaugrana came unstuck against Chelsea in the Champions League and Real Madrid in LaLiga, costing them in both competitions.

While possession is still central to the Barcelona way, they have shifted under Enrique, and understandably feeding their attacking threat has become a focus. Counter attacking is now a worry for the opposition, while high pressing doesn’t feature as often in their play, offering less space at the back for punishment.

The squad is also beginning to resemble that change, too. Last year, in the quarter finals of the Champions League, Atletico Madrid outwitted them with their rock solid back line, but the additions of Andre Gomes and Paco Alcacer offer them different options.

They may not be as devastating with the ball in previous years, but they can still keep it better than most, and now they have more strings to their hugely impressive bow.