5 top stars condemned to deliver this season

#2 Luis Suarez (FC Barcelona)

More than ever, Barca needs Suarez to deliver

What in God’s name has happened to Suarez? El Pistolero’s “seeming decline” in the space of just three seasons has been one of great concern to Barcelonistas.

The phrase “seeming decline” was deliberately used as a look at his statistics in La Liga over the last two seasons tells a different story. He has hit 54 goals and made 29 assists in 68 league games over the last two seasons, a phenomenal record by any standard.

However, this is one of those situations where statistics do not tell the full story. Suarez has been profligate and nowhere as influential for Barcelona in the last two seasons. Messi-dependence became an issue for Ernesto Valverde and Barca last season because Suarez was not delivering especially in the big matches. This is in sharp contrast to his form for his national team; La Celeste of Uruguay where he continues to deliver game-on-game.

His UCL record in the same time frame has been a disaster with 4 goals and 4 assists in his last NINETEEN (19) games in Europe’s premier club competition. His teammates will be hoping he finds his goal touch again this season as with the exit of Paco Alcacer, he is now the only recognized striker on the club’s books.

He has looked sharp in his first two La Liga games (has made one assist so far) and it is hoped that he will get back to the form he showed in his debut season at the Camp Nou where he propelled the team to a historic treble.