Griezmann fuels rampant Barca’s title bid
BARCELONA has coasted to the last two domestic titles and the added presence of Antoine Griezmann in an already formidable forward line makes it the favorite to land a third successive La Liga crown this season.
The Catalans will not just be looking to extend their domestic hegemony, though, as they have spent a combined 250 million euros (US$280 million) on a renewed bid to win the UEFA Champions League after last season’s harrowing semifinal exit to Liverpool.
After finishing 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid to win an eighth title in 11 years, Barca acted ruthlessly by shelling out 120 million euros on Griezmann, who was its nearest challenger’s leading scorer in each of the last five seasons.
It did so even after Griezmann had publicly rejected an offer to join the club the previous year, so strong was its urge to provide another layer of flair and firepower to an attack already containing Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Griezmann will guarantee his side more goals but his creativity, intelligence and renowned work rate could prove even more useful, especially in the latter rounds of the UCL, which Barca has failed to win since 2015.
“We are very happy with what he has given us so far, his movement offers us a lot and he works very hard in defense,” said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde of Griezmann after an emphatic 4-0 friendly win over Napoli.
“The fact he can play as a center forward or on the wing is an advantage for us, he can play from deep but he always likes to get into the box because he scores a lot of goals. He’s a different kind of player to what we’ve had before.”
Barca could yet add even more glamour to its attack by bringing back Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain, although re-signing the Brazilian would put further pressure on the club’s finances.
It will be guaranteed an extra slice of class and balance in the middle of the pitch, however, thanks to the presence of Frenkie de Jong, the 22-yearold midfield anchor which it shrewdly signed from Ajax Amsterdam for 75 million euros.
Left back Junior Firpo meanwhile will provide some much needed competition for Jordi Alba, who stagnated towards the end of the campaign, much like his team.
After wrapping up the title in April, Barca’s superb season was tarnished by its shock 0-4 defeat to Liverpool, which denied it a place in the UCL final, and its 1-2 loss to Valencia in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Barca is set to be without captain and all-time top scorer Messi due to a muscle injury when it begin its title defense away to Athletic Bilbao on Friday.
(Reuters)