Goalkeeper: Victor Valdés
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No questions here. Victor Valdés is Barcelona's starting goalkeeper and he'll remain so for many years. Over the past few seasons, no goalkeeper has conceded as few goals as Valdés, who's currently one of the best goalkeepers in the world and certainly the best possible goalkeeper for Barcelona.
Valdés is an specialist on one-on-one situations and is the best goalkeeper in the world with the ball at his feet (his pass leading up to Barcelona's first goal against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal is a prime example of that).
He'll undoubtedly be Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper this season.
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Valdés is an specialist on one-on-one situations and is the best goalkeeper in the world with the ball at his feet (his pass leading up to Barcelona's first goal against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal is a prime example of that).
He'll undoubtedly be Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper this season.
Left Back: Eric Abidal
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Éric Abidal is about to turn 32, but he shows no sings of slowing down. After all, when you beat cancer, you can beat everything.
Abidal has been a rock in Barcelona's defense under Pep Guardiola and the left back slot will remain his. His versatility means that he'll also play at center back on several occasions, though.
He might not be as amazing in attack as Daniel Alves on the right, but he's one of the most solid defenders in the world, and he knows the Barcelona system inside out.
David Ramos/Getty ImagesThere are question marks over Carles Puyol's fitness. He won't be able to play the Spanish Super Cup and it's still not known when he'll be fully fit again, although doctors expect it to be soon.
However, Puyol simply can't be excluded from Barcelona's strongest XI. When fit, he's arguably the most important member of the team.
Not only is he Barcelona's best defender, he's the captain and vocal leader, and everyone (namely Piqué) seems to play better when Puyol is on the pitch. Puyol's recovery might be the difference between success and failure for Barcelona this season. Even at 33 (soon to become 34), Puyol's importance can't be stressed enough.
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Abidal has been a rock in Barcelona's defense under Pep Guardiola and the left back slot will remain his. His versatility means that he'll also play at center back on several occasions, though.
He might not be as amazing in attack as Daniel Alves on the right, but he's one of the most solid defenders in the world, and he knows the Barcelona system inside out.
Center Back: Carles Puyol
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However, Puyol simply can't be excluded from Barcelona's strongest XI. When fit, he's arguably the most important member of the team.
Not only is he Barcelona's best defender, he's the captain and vocal leader, and everyone (namely Piqué) seems to play better when Puyol is on the pitch. Puyol's recovery might be the difference between success and failure for Barcelona this season. Even at 33 (soon to become 34), Puyol's importance can't be stressed enough.
Center Back: Gerard Piqué
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Along with Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué is part of arguably the greatest center-back duo of our days. The two have led Barcelona's defense during this golden era of unprecedented success, and have also won the World Cup with Spain, the first team to win the World Cup without conceding a single goal in the knockout stages.
While Piqué isn't at the same level as Puyol yet (after all, he's only 24), he's a world-class center back in his own right and a perfect partner for Puyol. When Puyol is sidelined, Piqué becomes the leader of the defense, which he has shown he can do quite well.
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While Piqué isn't at the same level as Puyol yet (after all, he's only 24), he's a world-class center back in his own right and a perfect partner for Puyol. When Puyol is sidelined, Piqué becomes the leader of the defense, which he has shown he can do quite well.
Right Back: Daniel Alves
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In the past five seasons (two with Sevilla, three with Barcelona), no player in Europe has racked up more assists than Daniel Alves in all competitions. Not bad for a right back, eh?
But Daniel Alves isn't just a right back, he's much more than that. He's a right back, a right winger, a right midfielder... Those who watched him in his Sevilla days know that he's a one-man team at times.
He's the world's best right back and a key member of this Barcelona team. He's a solid defender, but his most important contributions are in attack, where he functions like a true right winger, being the only man providing depth on the pitch for Barcelona.
Daniel Alves was one of the most inspired signings of the Guardiola era and replacing him one day will be one of the hardest tasks Barcelona could ever wish for.
But Daniel Alves isn't just a right back, he's much more than that. He's a right back, a right winger, a right midfielder... Those who watched him in his Sevilla days know that he's a one-man team at times.
He's the world's best right back and a key member of this Barcelona team. He's a solid defender, but his most important contributions are in attack, where he functions like a true right winger, being the only man providing depth on the pitch for Barcelona.
Daniel Alves was one of the most inspired signings of the Guardiola era and replacing him one day will be one of the hardest tasks Barcelona could ever wish for.
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