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The Unanswered Question: Is This The Best Barca Team Ever?

In his latest guest editorial, David Donaldson asks the question on everyone's minds: after their treble last weekend, is this the best FC Barcelona team, ever?

David Ramos/Getty Images

It was a fifth Champions League final win for La Liga champions Barcelona last weekend. A game they ended up winning 3-1 against Italian side Juventus with goals from Swiss midfielder Ivan Rakitić, former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and a 97th minute strike from Brazilian star Neymar. The victory marks Barcelona’s third Champions League win in just 6 years, underlining their tag as the best European football team of the last decade. The victory in Berlin puts the icing on the cake of yet another impressive season for the Spanish side and for manager Luis Enrique.

Back in May, the Spanish giants picked up their 23rd league title by winning the 2014-15 La Liga and then, less than two weeks later, Messi and Co were able to fend off Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final, also winning 3-1. The fearsome forward line of Suarez, Neymar and Messi all finished in the top 10 La Liga goalscorers chart, scoring an accumulative total of 81 goals between them and the club are already favourites to retain all the titles they won this season with 188 bet.

So, after a season of stunning football, and ultimately success, we have to ask is this the best Barcelona side that we have ever witnessed?

Glory and success isn’t exactly a new experience for Barcelona fans but there are a number of factors this season that have made these triumphs all the more impressive. After a devastating defeat for Leo in last year’s World Cup final, many questioned how the Argentine maestro would react when he returned to Europe for the start of the domestic season. However, with 58 goals and 28 assists in just 57 appearances, the little magician has emphatically silenced his doubters and his performances, particularly the dazzling display in the Champions League semi against Bayern Munich, have led fellow footballers to claim that he is nearing the peak of his powers.

Coupled with an inspired Leo Messi, In July 2014 Barcelona managed to snare another huge star to add to their line-up in the form of Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez. Often the source of much controversy, Liverpool were quick to sell on the Uruguayan who was involved in another toothy incident at the 2014 World Cup.

Despite his antics, Suarez is undoubtedly one of the best players on the planet and he has given this Barcelona team a new dynamic, perhaps one they have never had before. Despite not being as prolific as Messi in front of goal, Suarez’s runs have created an abundance of space for Messi and Neymar to exploit and his industrious tracking back has made the team more defensively solid.

Barcelona are growing stronger and stronger all the time and seem to have found the perfect balance of experience and young talent. Stalwarts like Pique and Mascherano have helped players like Rakitic shine and, with the "Trident" upfront, every other club across Europe are frightened.

Do you think this is the best Barcelona team of all time? Leave us your thoughts below.


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