Talking points from Leganes 0-3 Barcelona

Another win, another clean sheet for Barcelona but again it was hardly a scintillating performance from Ernesto Valverde’s side at Leganes and there’s plenty to think about.

Have Barcelona got Luis Suarez back?

Much was made of Suarez’s ‘rest’ over the international break but it certainly seems to have done the Uruguayan some good.

He went into the match having not scored in his last five games but grabbed two which will do wonders for his confidence, if nothing else.

Suarez looked a lot sharper and while we don’t know if his injury is still an issue, this display is just what was needed ahead of tough games against Juventus and Valencia.

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

After Messi, is Ter Stegen Barcelona’s most important player?

We keep talking about Marc-Andre ter Stegen this season and we will keep doing it as he continues to show how important he is to the team.

The Germany international was brilliant again at the weekend and you wonder if he’s the second name on Valverde’s teamsheet after Lionel Messi.

Valverde’s team may not be thrilling at the moment, but it’s being built on strong foundations, the strongest of which is the man in the Barcelona goal.

Alcacer & Paulinho step up on another quiet day for Messi

After Messi’s sensational start to the season the goals have dried up a little, he has two in his last seven games and was quiet against Leganes.

Barcelona have justifiably been accused of being over-reliant on Messi this season but when they have needed goals from other sources, they have found them.

After his two goals against Sevilla, Paco Alcacer was again in the team and while he did not score, he had a hand in both of Suarez’s goals and this was another strong showing.

So too Paulinho, he came on and scored yet again, his fourth of the season which brings up this nice little stat:

Who will play in defence against Leganes?

When Valverde picked Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique for this one, he knew he risked losing one of his defenders for the next match against Valencia and so it proved.

Pique will sit out next weekend’s clash due to suspension, so who will partner Umtiti?

The obvious choice remains Thomas Vermaelen but there’s a sneaking suspicion Valverde may actually look elsewhere.

Lucas Digne has been touted, while Valverde also mentioned pre-match he could look towards the B team. There’s also the question of whether Umtiti will play against Juventus, or should Valverde wrap him up in cotton wool ahead of the trip to Mestalla?