beIN SPORTS

By Andreas Vou (@AndreasVou89)

A year and a day after missing out on winning the league against Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou, FC Barcelona claimed the title at the Vicente Calderon last Sunday with a goal from Lionel Messi.

There were plenty of twists and turns throughout the season but, in the end, Barcelona thoroughly deserved the title, standing head and shoulders above the rest of Spain.

Here are the five key points which led to their 23rd Liga success.

Finding the formula for MSN to flourish

A partnership in Messi and Neymar, which did not really click the previous campaign, was flourishing at the start of the season but the introduction of Luis Suarez was not such a smooth transition.

Consequently, Suarez was given a more central role and it was from that moment that Barcelona’s upward surge would begin. 

Messi has returned to his brilliant best, Neymar has taken his game to another level and Suarez has been lethal in front of goal but it is the cohesion they have found as a collective which has transformed Barça’s season - reflected by their combined tally of 79 league goals.

Gerard Pique’s return to world class

From not getting into the team at the start of season, Gerard Pique ends the campaign as a savior.

His return to world class form has played a vital role in Barça’s title win, underpinned by his heroics in the vital 2-1 win over Real where a number of crucial blocks and tackles kept his side in the game before Suarez netted the winner. 

The following week, at Balaídos, came an iconic moment in the season. A last ditch tackle to prevent Celta Vigo from a certain goal was followed almost immediately by a Jeremy Mathieu header which would hand Barça a huge three points, which Pique celebrated ecstatically. 

Luis Enrique and Lionel Messi putting the team ahead of their disputes

When Luis Enrique decided to leave Messi on the bench for that now infamous defeat to Real Sociedad in January, a dispute ensued which could have had devastating consequences for the club

Well-informed reports arose that Messi was unhappy with his manager and the Argentine decided not to turn up to an open training session the next day, even fuelling speculation that he wanted to leave the club which led to rumors of Luis Enrique facing imminent dismissal.

Their relationship may not be rosy but they quickly put their egos aside and focused on their respective jobs which has seen the team turn its fortunes around ever since.

Cluadio Bravo’s heroics

The departure of the long-serving Victor Valdes meant there was a big void to fill but former sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta chose two very reliable goalkeepers in the summer. 

Claudio Bravo started the season with nine straight clean sheets and has played every game in the league, going on to claim 23 clean sheets in 37 league games which is a club record under the 38-game league format.

He has been an ever-reliable presence throughout the year and has made vital contributions along the way, none more so than his penalty save from Valencia’s Dani Parejo at a point in the game where Barça were under heavy pressure. 

Fixing an age-old Barça weakness

Rather than remain stubborn as in previous years and accepting their physical inferiority, the new backroom team identified the problem and ended up solving it.

The intention of adding more height to the side was clear with six summer signings exceeding 1.81m. Then, after conceding two soft set-piece goals in Paris in September, Luis Enrique began dedicating one training session per week specifically to set pieces. 

The results have been telling; since that defeat in Paris, they went on to concede three goals from set pieces in the remainder of the league campaign.

And from conceding 12 of their 33 goals to headers last season, Barça have let in just two headers all campaign this time around and scored 14 times from set pieces.