Five things Barcelona need to do to hit back at Champions League and LaLiga winners Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s third Champions League title in four years, and their first LaLiga title in five years, has cemented Los Blancos as top dogs.
Barcelona - the team that previously revered as the world's best - have seen their standards drop lately.
Last season was a disappointing campaign and, while they secured victory in the Copa Del Rey, missing out on the league title and watching Real lift a second successive European Cup will have hurt.
It’s all change in the Barcelona coaching department this summer, with Luis Enrique leaving and Ernesto Valverde coming in, and that is sure to shake things up inside the Nou Camp dressing room.
However, we take a look at the five things Barcelona need to do if they are going to hit back at Real Madrid and reclaim glory.
1. Buy a right-back
This is perhaps the most obvious item on Barcelona’s to-do list after hiring Valverde as manager.
Dani Alves’ performances for Juventus this season highlight the grave mistake Barca may have made in letting the Brazilian leave last summer for free.
The Catalan club have had problems filling the gap at right-back with Sergi Roberto being preferred in the position under Luis Enrique.
Aleix Vidal has failed to make the position his own after signing from Sevilla in 2015 and it is an issue the club need to address.
Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin is high on the wanted list at the Nou Camp, having been a part of the club’s youth system until he was 16, and a deal could happen this summer.
Another man under consideration is Benfica’s Nelson Semedo. Both players would be a great solution to fill Barcelona’s problem position.
2. Valverde must hit the ground running
Another obvious statement is brand new head coach Valverde must get to grips with the Barcelona hot seat quickly.
The 53-year-old is experienced after his time with Athletic Bilbao, as well as Valencia, Villarreal and Espanyol in Spain’s top flight, and he must win the dressing room and have a clear playing philosophy for the players to get on board with.
With Real Madrid in such a dominant position, and with a strong squad, Barcelona can’t afford to have a slow start if they want to reclaim the LaLiga title.
3. Improve Paco Alcacer and Andre Gomes
Both players arrived last summer from Valencia for a combined fee of £69million and it’s fair to say the pair haven’t performed as expected.
While Alcacer did enjoy scoring in the Copa Del Rey final it was just his eighth in all competitions this season whereas Gomes’ midfield performances failed to inspire.
The club are expected to retain both players but will fully expect them to improve and add to the strength in depth of the squad.
They’ve had a season to bed in - there are no excuses now not to perform.
4. Find Xavi’s replacement
The legendary midfielder left the club for Qatar in 2015 and Barcelona haven’t managed to find a like-for-like replacement.
Ivan Rakitic and Gomes have had chances to step in and fill the void but both are a different type of player to the pass master.
Obviously it is difficult to find a player to match the quality Xavi offered but, with Andres Iniesta’s performances dipping, a new midfield passer is needed more than ever.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti could be that man if Barcelona can convince the French side to sell the Italian.
5. Reignite La Masia
Under Pep Guardiola Barcelona’s famed academy was a shining light and was a perfect example of how to grow and develop players into a team of world-beaters.
However, the production line has stagnated somewhat with Sergi Roberto the only graduate to really establish himself in the first team since Guardiola left.
Players such as Sergi Samper and Jordi Mboula could be ready soon but to guarantee the long-term success of the club emphasis must be put back into bringing players through the La Masia ranks.