Luis Suarez will be key for Barcelona against Man United

Barcelona will need Luis Suarez to continue his recent run of form against Manchester United.

Luis Suarez has been on a tear recently, scoring the equalizing goal against Villarreal and a spectacular game-winner against Atletico Madrid. For Barcelona to get past their quarter-finals curse, the team will need him to break his own Champions League curse.

Luis Suarez has not scored an away goal in the Champions League since September 2015 when he scored against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico. It’s been almost four years since he’s scored an away goal and it should come as no surprise that Barcelona have been knocked out in the quarters ever since.

With the focus increasingly centered on Messi the further the team progresses in the tournament, it’s become even important that a player like Suarez steps up in important games such as these. Recalling some of Barcelona’s defeats against Roma, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus, these teams were able to stifle Messi and with no other creative outlet, Barcelona had no answers. Too often we saw Luis Suarez alone or looking frustrated because he wasn’t getting any service. We also saw him try to dribble and take on players which at this point in his career, it’s probably unwise to do.

Given his recent run of form, there is hope that he will be able to break his scoring drought. He’s scored five in the last seven games against with his latest two all but ensuring another league title for Barcelona. He also scored twice in the Copa del Rey match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. While he’s still looked plodding in some of the games where he has scored, he’s stepped up when the club has needed him the most. It’s encouraging as well considering how often Ernesto Valverde relies on him and given the fact that he has no real alternative despite the signing of Kevin-Prince Boateng.

As long as Lionel Messi is there and as long as there is no back-up, Luis Suarez will continue to play, whether we like it or not. The friendship that these two have is important and one that’s been hesitant to split up on the pitch even when Suarez has been playing poorly. Now that he’s turned things around somewhat, it’s freed up Messi a bit more as well to drop deeper and know that if he puts Suarez through on goal, he’s going to score. All that can change though and the Uruguayan can have a bad game. But Valverde has to ride the hot hand and hope that his spark does not run out in this tie against Manchester United.

There’s a reason why a striker is high on the list of priorities this summer for Barcelona. But they will have to rely on Suarez and hope that he continues his goal scoring streak. Messi is a good Plan A and Plan B but even the best need help now and then. Luis Suarez needs to be that helping hand if Barcelona want to win another Champions League.