Barcelona 2017/18 review: Game of the season

The 2017/18 season has come to a close for Football Club Barcelona and despite the black cloud of the failed Champions League campaign, there was a great deal of quality produced on the pitch this season.

Having completed an historic double, Barcelona played some sublime football at times and shortlisting such pageantry to a mere three games is never an easy feat but that’s exactly what we’ve done here at Barca Blaugranes.

Here are the best three games from 2017/18.

1. Barcelona 5-0 Sevilla (Copa del Rey Final, 21^st April 2018)

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Just eleven days after the shambolic loss to Roma that saw their European campaign come to an end, Barcelona arrived at the Wanda Metropolitano hell bent on reclaiming some measure of success in a season that many had unfairly labelled a failure.

The Copa del Rey final represented a chance for some much-needed silverware for the Blaugrana and also, more importantly, an opportunity to lessen the outpouring of criticism from their trip to Italy.

It didn’t take long for Barca to assert their dominance over Sevilla as Philippe Coutinho broke free on the right wing, received a long ball and crossed the ball to Suarez for the first of five goals against Sevilla.

A brilliant piece of play from both Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba saw Messi deliver the second goal of the game in the 31^st minute and Suarez added a third just nine minutes later.

The second half was just as dominant from Barcelona with two more goals coming via Iniesta and Coutinho. The first trophy of the season was lifted and with it a little of that Champions League pain slipped away.

2. Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona (La Liga Match Day 17, 23^rd December, 2017)

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

After many pundits had virtually written off the Neymar-less Barcelona at the start of the season it was a surprise to many that an undefeated Barça travelled to Madrid just two days before Christmas. Despite their success though, many believed this would ultimately be the game that saw this new look team come undone.

Instead, the Blaugrana put on a display of football that left no doubt about the ability of this team to not only compete with the might of Madrid but to defeat their arch rivals in their own stadium.

The first half was a little stagnant considering the quality of play we’re accustomed to in an El Clasico but the second half was a dazzling display from the visitors.

A moment of brilliance from Sergio Busquets was the catalyst for Barcelona’s first goal. The maestro of midfield held possession of the ball long enough to create space for Ivan Rakitic to make a run through the centre of the pitch. Busquets then sent through a pinpoint pass to the Croatian. Rakitic passed it off to Sergi Roberto who found an open Luis Suarez who only had to put the ball in the back of the net.

In the 63^rd minute drama erupted as Dani Carvajal was given a red card for a blatant hand ball. Leo Messi stepped up and casually slotted the penalty. From that moment on, the game was never really in doubt.

Aleix Vidal added a third goal in the 93^rd minute and Barcelona walked away with an unassailable 14-point lead over their biggest adversary in La Liga.

3. Barcelona 5-1 Villarreal (La Liga Match Day 34, 9^th May, 2018)

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Despite having little to play for in what would be one of the last games of the season, Barcelona put on a display of champagne football in a 5-1 thrashing of Villarreal. The game was a thrilling affair but will ultimately be remembered as Ousmane Dembele’s party.

The French winger has had a forgettable debut season for the Blaugrana but his outstanding speed and skills were on full display against Villarreal; bagging two goals and showing the kind of raw potential he wields.

It was Dembele’s phenomenal run early on that resulted in the first goal for Philippe Coutinho. Two moments of Iniesta magic followed as he set up goals for Paulinho and Messi before Dembele added two of his own late in the game.

Villarreal had been on a three-game winning streak prior to the match but had no answer for a rampant Blaugrana squad that displayed the kind of football they are famously known for.

Those are our choices but what’s your favourite? Vote in our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!