Barcelona Vs Alaves: 3 players who will decide the game for La Blaugrana

Barcelona kicks off their LaLiga title defense with a home clash against Alaves on Saturday night. The Basque club almost caused a major upset in this fixture last season, leading the Catalans by a goal for most of the match before Coutinho and Messi secured a 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp.

Barca manager, Ernesto Valverde will not take this game lightly and is expected to name a very strong lineup for his team's season opener. The Spaniard is acutely aware of how important a fast start is this campaign with both Madrid sides desperate to launch an assault for the title and bring the LaLiga trophy back to the Spanish capital.

Of course, Barcelona will enter this clash as overwhelming favourites and with the likes of Messi, Suarez, Rakatic, and Coutinho expected to start, there are a host of match-winners in the starting XI. We may also see a debut for the new boy, Artur, who hugely impressed during Barca's 2-1 victory over Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup.

Three other new signings have been named in the matchday squad including Malcom, Arturo Vidal, and Clement Lenglet. It will be interesting to see if these players are named in the starting XI or whether they can have an impact off the bench.

Below, we look at three Barcelona players who will decide the season opener against Alaves at the Nou Camp.

---

#1 Phillipe Coutinho

Coutinho is a key player for Barcelona this season

The club's record signing enjoyed an excellent few months at the Nou Camp after his transfer in January of this year. Playing 18 times for Barcelona last season, the Brazilian netted eight goals and instantly formed a rapport with Messi to create a frightening partnership.

This will be the 26-year-old's first full season in Barcelona colours and he will hope to kick on from an impressive first few months. The attacking midfielder came on as a substitute during Barcelona's 2-1 Spanish Super Cup victory over Sevilla, but will likely start against Alaves on Saturday night.

His ability to score from anywhere around the edge of the box and beyond will surely cause panic in the Alaves defense who will need to decide whether to step up and close the space where Coutinho likes to shoot or sit deep and stop the runs of Messi behind the lines.

Coutinho has the ability to single-handedly win a match on any given day and could play a big role in the final result at the Nou Camp.

#2 Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele will look to establish himself as a first-team player this season

A frustrating debut season for Ousmane Dembele is now in the past and the new LaLiga campaign represents an opportunity for the young Frenchman to show why Barcelona forked out such an extravagant fee for his services.

Having scored a wondergoal against Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup, Dembele is currently in line to start against Alaves ahead of Malcom. While many drew conclusions that the arrival of Malcom could signify the end of Dembele's short career at the Nou Camp, it could actually have the opposite effect.

The 21-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer but remains in Catalonia with more determination than ever to fight for his place. The healthy competition provided by Malcom could kickstart the World Cup winner's career at Barcelona and push him to show the kind of performances that made him a superstar.

When on his game, Dembele is a joy to watch. His flair, skills, and pace can excite the fans in attendance and create golden opportunities for his teammates. As shown last week against Sevilla, he can also score breathtaking goals which decide games.

#1 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is Barcelona captain this season

Not unexpectedly, Messi remains the biggest gamechanger in this Barcelona side. The phenomenon does enter some new territory this season however which could lead to him producing one of his finest campaigns to date or maybe slipping from his usual standards.

The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Messi as the main player in LaLiga. This could have a positive effect as he dominates all opposition and scoops up every award this season. Or, it could have a negative effect as he loses motivation without his rival.

Another factor affecting the Argentinian this season is his inheritance of the captain's armband. While Messi is undoubtedly an incredible player, a question mark remains over his ability as a leader on the pitch. He can lead by example with his performances, but can he motivate and berate players during the game if necessary?

These intriguing questions will be answered over the course of the season. For the game against Alaves, the icon will hope his performance can decide the match in favour of Barcelona, as it has done countless times before.