In a special guest post from Jamie McGregor, editor of Spanish Football Info, we take a look at the state of affairs at FC Barcelona, who meet FC Porto in tonight's UEFA Super Cup. 
Not many teams can claim to have won two trophies before they've even played a single league match but that's what Barcelona will be able to do should they defeat Porto on Friday night.Of course Barcelona find themselves in this position due to a players strike which caused the cancellation of their opening league game at Malaga.
That
means Barca's last competitive action was their incredible 3-2 win over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup last Wednesday. They have, however, managed to squeeze a semi-competitive game with Napoli (a game they won 5-0) to fill part of the gap.
Last season was another all conquering campaign for the “Pep Team”, winning the league and then sweeping aside Manchester United with ease in the Champions League final. It really was the most convincing of victories and proved, if it needing doing so, that Barcelona were by far the best team on the continent. Success of such stature brings great rewards but it also brings difficulties, mainly how to maintain it? After winning everything so convincingly, is there anything left to prove? If not, how do you avoid complacency? Guardiola's method has been rather unique - strengthen the strongest part of the team.
When you think of the current Barcelona team and you list its strongest areas you almost certainly go for midfield followed by attack followed by defence. It was therefore to many people's surprise that Guardiola didn't go out in the summer and buy a new defender. Sure Puyol and Piqué are as strong a pairing as any but if one of them gets injured, who is your back-up? Guardiola's last attempt at buying a defender, Dmytro Chyhrynskiy, didn't work out at all so this time he's decided to change tactics. Rather than look for a defender and try to adapt him to Barcelona's style, he's taken one of the teams more defensive minded midfielders and turned him into a defender. Step forward, Javier Mascherano.
Despite some people's worries about Mascherano ahead of the Champions League final, the Argentinian did excellently in place of the injured Puyol. Similarly he played well in both legs of the Super Cup against a potent Real Madrid attack. The idea of playing midfielders in defence may seem strange to some traditionalists but to Guardiola, a man raised in the ideas of Cruyff and total football, it makes perfect sense. Indeed before Mascherano was moved back, Sergio Busquets deputised and also did a sterling job. Whether Guardiola's decision not to buy an established defender pays off is yet to be seen. A swathe of injuries might push the system to the breaking point but even allowing for that, the game will often be won higher up the park.
So Barcelona now have five midfielders and only three spaces available, isn't that going to cause a problem? Not in my opinion. As well as the European Super Cup, Barcelona still have to compete in the World Club Championships, The Copa del Rey, the Champions League and of course the league. Their main rivals, Real Madrid, have strengthened and are more determined than ever to beat them. Competition for places will be fierce but at the same time, with so many games, everyone will get a chance. Guardiola will certainly have to rest Xavi, who's carrying a recurring injury, more than last season and now has the luxury of two top quality replacements. And that is the crux of the issue, having quality on the bench.
Two seasons ago a well organised Inter Milan knocked a frustrated Barcelona out of the Champions League. At the time, Barcelona had a great first team but not such a great bench. There was no-one good enough to come on and change the game significantly. Fast forward to last week, Barcelona are on the ropes at home to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. Guardiola looks at his bench and is able to call on Thiago, Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez. On comes Fabregas and the game is won.
Of course we couldn't finish a look at Barcelona without talking about their forward players. Pedro, Villa and Messi, all great players, all big game players. Again we go back to Wembley where all three scored when it really mattered. Surely this area doesn't need strengthening? Then again, competition is good and back up is important. Two seasons ago it was Ibrahimovic and we all know how that turned out. Too slow, too inflexible, too self-obessed. Last season Guardiola went for someone closer to home, David Villa, and he repaid him with goals against Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester United. It's clear what type of forward works well at Barcelona, someone fast and versatile and with the temperament to accept being a member of a team. That's why Guardiola made Alexis Sanchez his first big signing of the season. The Chilean front-man had an excellent year at Udinese and already demonstrated in the Super Cup that he has the quality and work-rate to fit into the team.
In closing, while it may seem strange, Guardiola has been faced with a bit of a dilemma for a while now. Maintaining the incredible success rate his team has set isn't as easy as they sometimes make it look. A few times, as with Chyhrynskiy and Ibrahimovic, he's got it wrong. Other times, with Villa, he's got it right. This season is looking like another one of those he''s got spot on.
Not many teams can claim to have won two trophies before they've even played a single league match but that's what Barcelona will be able to do should they defeat Porto on Friday night.Of course Barcelona find themselves in this position due to a players strike which caused the cancellation of their opening league game at Malaga.That
means Barca's last competitive action was their incredible 3-2 win over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup last Wednesday. They have, however, managed to squeeze a semi-competitive game with Napoli (a game they won 5-0) to fill part of the gap.
Last season was another all conquering campaign for the “Pep Team”, winning the league and then sweeping aside Manchester United with ease in the Champions League final. It really was the most convincing of victories and proved, if it needing doing so, that Barcelona were by far the best team on the continent. Success of such stature brings great rewards but it also brings difficulties, mainly how to maintain it? After winning everything so convincingly, is there anything left to prove? If not, how do you avoid complacency? Guardiola's method has been rather unique - strengthen the strongest part of the team.
The rise of Mascherano
When you think of the current Barcelona team and you list its strongest areas you almost certainly go for midfield followed by attack followed by defence. It was therefore to many people's surprise that Guardiola didn't go out in the summer and buy a new defender. Sure Puyol and Piqué are as strong a pairing as any but if one of them gets injured, who is your back-up? Guardiola's last attempt at buying a defender, Dmytro Chyhrynskiy, didn't work out at all so this time he's decided to change tactics. Rather than look for a defender and try to adapt him to Barcelona's style, he's taken one of the teams more defensive minded midfielders and turned him into a defender. Step forward, Javier Mascherano.Despite some people's worries about Mascherano ahead of the Champions League final, the Argentinian did excellently in place of the injured Puyol. Similarly he played well in both legs of the Super Cup against a potent Real Madrid attack. The idea of playing midfielders in defence may seem strange to some traditionalists but to Guardiola, a man raised in the ideas of Cruyff and total football, it makes perfect sense. Indeed before Mascherano was moved back, Sergio Busquets deputised and also did a sterling job. Whether Guardiola's decision not to buy an established defender pays off is yet to be seen. A swathe of injuries might push the system to the breaking point but even allowing for that, the game will often be won higher up the park.
Midfield genius
Without a doubt, Barcelona's strongest and most influential area is the midfield. They may have had a slow first ten minutes at Wembley but once Busquets, Iniesta and Xavi got into their stride there was only going to be one winner. During the summer a new star stated his case for an inclusion in that midfielder. Thiago Alcantara ran the show as Spain's Under 21 team won the European Championships in Denmark. There were rumours of Chelsea, Manchester United and even Real Madrid making offers for the youngster but Barcelona weren't going to let him go and he signed a new contract. He then went on to become the star of the club's pre-season tour and won his first call up the senior national team. For many fans Thiago was a reason not to buy Fabregas but Guardiola was still determined to get his man and after one of the longest transfer sagas in history, the Arsenal captained returned to his boyhood club.So Barcelona now have five midfielders and only three spaces available, isn't that going to cause a problem? Not in my opinion. As well as the European Super Cup, Barcelona still have to compete in the World Club Championships, The Copa del Rey, the Champions League and of course the league. Their main rivals, Real Madrid, have strengthened and are more determined than ever to beat them. Competition for places will be fierce but at the same time, with so many games, everyone will get a chance. Guardiola will certainly have to rest Xavi, who's carrying a recurring injury, more than last season and now has the luxury of two top quality replacements. And that is the crux of the issue, having quality on the bench.
Added depth
Two seasons ago a well organised Inter Milan knocked a frustrated Barcelona out of the Champions League. At the time, Barcelona had a great first team but not such a great bench. There was no-one good enough to come on and change the game significantly. Fast forward to last week, Barcelona are on the ropes at home to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. Guardiola looks at his bench and is able to call on Thiago, Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez. On comes Fabregas and the game is won.Of course we couldn't finish a look at Barcelona without talking about their forward players. Pedro, Villa and Messi, all great players, all big game players. Again we go back to Wembley where all three scored when it really mattered. Surely this area doesn't need strengthening? Then again, competition is good and back up is important. Two seasons ago it was Ibrahimovic and we all know how that turned out. Too slow, too inflexible, too self-obessed. Last season Guardiola went for someone closer to home, David Villa, and he repaid him with goals against Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester United. It's clear what type of forward works well at Barcelona, someone fast and versatile and with the temperament to accept being a member of a team. That's why Guardiola made Alexis Sanchez his first big signing of the season. The Chilean front-man had an excellent year at Udinese and already demonstrated in the Super Cup that he has the quality and work-rate to fit into the team.
In closing, while it may seem strange, Guardiola has been faced with a bit of a dilemma for a while now. Maintaining the incredible success rate his team has set isn't as easy as they sometimes make it look. A few times, as with Chyhrynskiy and Ibrahimovic, he's got it wrong. Other times, with Villa, he's got it right. This season is looking like another one of those he''s got spot on.
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