With the European season officially ended, Football España will discuss Elke van de la Liga parties and how they did it this season.
La Liga: 1st – 88 points
Champions League: Semi-Final
Copa del Rey: winners
Spanish Supercup: winners
Top goal scorer: Robert Lewandowski – 42
Top Assister: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal – 25
When Barcelona started the season, there were doubts about Dani Olmo, their only summer drawing and in general about the second mandate of Joan Laporta. Towards the end, Olmo could remain the biggest doubt, because Hansi Flick succeeded in obtaining the maximum of almost everything and everyone.
The season started with promise, a free -flowing attack and a smile replaced the uniform of glum expressions in Barcelona. Big victories against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich turned from optimism to genuine conviction, and despite the fact that in November and December they lost their way in a spectacular way, Flick Barcelona saw the other way.
In 2025, Frenkie de Jong joined Raphinha on the redemption arch, and Barcelona only lost twice to three trophies in Spain, and a semi-final run in Europe. Despite repeated reports about the downfall of the high line of Barcelona, only an absurd goalkeeper performance and the woodwork saw the Blaugrana in the Champions League. In August it seemed that Barcelona could be confronted with a era of Real Madrid -Dominance: Flick's side made that suggestion with 16 goals in four Clasicos.
Perhaps the plus point had reserved a victory of the Champions League, but winning La Liga was a prospect that required a lot of imagination at the start of the season. Barcelona did not do that alone, they did this in Swashbuckling style, played the best football that was seen in Catalonia since Luis Enrique's frightening front three.
The individual turnarounds cannot be ignored: Raphinha went from a negotiating ship to a balloon d'Or candidate, Robert Lewandowski aimed beyond 40 goals, Pedri was unable not to play to unsplayable, and Inigo Martinez roared his defense with Warrioror. Lamine Yamal came from a brilliant euro 2024 campaign, but even he turned into narrower phenomenon, so that the big team had thrown away with his magical feet after the big team.
An almost impossible task, which contributed purely in the entire season, could probably have gone to Lamine Yamal or Pedri. Yet this was Raphinha's season. His hunger, aggression and explosiveness characterized what this Barcelona was about this year.
Time and again Raphinha, a threatening monument about the football match, published, the Corcovado itself brought inspiration to, among other things, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Benfica in Down. Only an decay, an accident, robbed him of one of those moments against Inter.
Just like with the previous prize, these other pretenders, and only his injury problems see Frenkie de Jong Miss Out. From the first moment, however, Inigo Martinez set the tone in a young football team, and a backline that was due to Flick's own admission was contracultural against what his aging legs and head asked of him.
The 33-year-old was not even a certainty to be in the club this season, and towards the end of the season his absence meant that goals were leaked. Behind him, first Marc-Andre ter Stegen, then the melancholic Inaki Pena, then the completely retired man who helps a partner. Left of him, Alejandro Balde, without trust, to his right, an 18-year-old Pau Cubarsi. For him, Pedri was playing deeper for the first time in three years and Marc Casado plays at this level for the first time. Flick's praise over Martinez was reserved for precious few.
Mercurial is often used as a praise, but in the case of Dani Olmo it was his obstacle. There were times when Olmo produced magic who won Barcelona games and found room in a straight jacket. Despite his goal against Inter, Olmo struggled to make the right notes against Real Madrid and Italians in the final phase. Inconsistency was helped by injury, and the feeling is that Olmo could be the X factor of Barcelona, but is currently only an X factor.
Much reason for more optimism. Whether they win La Liga or not next season is another conversation, but you can almost guarantee that they will challenge. Barcelona will also be one of the favorites for the Champions League, and if they can keep their most important players suitable, there is no reason to think that the Blaugrana cannot compete with someone and in every competition.
Another reason for relief is the club World Cup. Barcelona will have a rare full preseason this summer, and more than a month off, raw materials that most managers cannot buy. The good news is that Barcelona has managed all this with some obvious holes in their team and a clear space for improvement. The expectation next year will be a weight that they did not have to wear this time.