Barca still searching for top gear

MADRID. - Barcelona may be flying high at the top of the Spanish La Liga soccer table with 11 wins from 13 games, but there is a tangible feeling they need to take an extra step forward under coach Ernesto Valverde to emulate the great sides of recent years.

Today the Catalans host Celta Vigo, against whom they served up some of their most irresistible displays of the past two years, which Valverde needs to replicate to truly win over the Nou Camp faithful. Barca hammered Celta 6-1 in 2016 and 5-0 last season with glitzy displays from front three Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. But that attacking flair has been somewhat lacking since Brazilian striker Neymar joined Paris St Germain.

Messi may be the Spanish league’s top scorer with 12 goals, but Suarez has badly underperformed, struggling for fitness after rushing back from a knee injury in September and forced to play in the wide areas previously patrolled by Neymar. “In general we have controlled every game. But before, with Neymar, we were more unpredictable and we used to put on more of a show,” midfielder Ivan Rakitic told newspaper Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday.

FIXTURES

Today: Barcelona v Celta de Vigo (2pm); Atlético Madrid v Real Sociedad (5:15pm); Sevilla v Deportivo La (7:30pm); Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid (9:45pm).

Tomorrow: Leganés v Villarreal (1pm); Getafe v Valencia (5:15pm); Eibar v Espanyol (7:30pm); Las Palmas v Real Betis (9:45pm).

Monday: Girona v Deportivo Alavés (10pm). - Reuters.