Great Barcelona in the Champions League. After missing out on the last four in 2013-14, the Blaugrana reached their sixth semi-final in seven seasons with an emphatic win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday - and their fully functioning forward line means they are better equipped to go all the way to the trophy this time than at any point since winning the competition in 2010-11.
In the 5-1 aggregate victory Luis Suarez netted twice while Neymar grabbed three, including a sleek double in Tuesday's straightforward defeat of the French, who knew before kick-off it would take a miracle to turn the tie around. The responsibiliity for genius is spread across this enviable trio - and that's what makes this Barca such an ominous threat.
Pep Guardiola's brilliant side owed much to the midfield trio of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, yet the most memorable moments and the finest football from that team arrived when the front three thrived as well.
In 2008-09, Lionel Messi started on the right with Samuel Eto'o as the central striker and Thierry Henry out on the left, something of a sacrificial role after his superb showings as a centre-forward for Arsenal, but one which - for a single season at least - he performed perfectly.
Barca won the treble that season, but were not the same the following campaign as Zlatan Ibrahimovic slowed down the entire team before departing under a cloud in the summer as Guardiola opted to play Messi in the centre as a false nine.
That worked well, but the Argentine attacker needed support and did not receive much as Barca lost to Jose Mourinho's Inter in the 2010 semi-finals.
Pep purchased David Villa to replace him and, along with Pedro, those two provided stellar able back-up to Messi in 2010-11 as Barca won La Liga, beat Manchester United in the Champions League final with a wonderful performance at Wembley and only missed out on another treble as they fell to Mourinho's Madrid in the Copa del Rey showpiece at Mestalla.
However, that team was hit by a big blow later in 2011 as Villa broke his leg and he was never really the same player again. And in 2011-12, Guardiola's final season at the club, defeat to Chelsea in the semi-finals frustrated followers of the Catalan club. Again, however, Messi was left to do too much on his own, this time with Cristian Tello and even Isaac Cuenca utilised in a makeshift forward line.
Under Tito Vilanova in 2012-13, Barca were in turmoil as the Catalan coach took time out for cancer treatment and the Blaugrana were handed a lesson with a 7-0 aggregate defeat to eventual champions Bayern Munich in the last four, before falling to Atletico Madrid under Tata Martino in 2013-14, with Alexis Sanchez and Neymar unable to help Messi in an injury-interrupted season for the Rosario-born forward.
But now, Barca are better equipped. With Suarez scoring freely and Neymar back to his best following a recent break, Messi has not even been needed to provide goals in the knockout stages and comfortable aggregate wins over both Manchester City and PSG.
"Our potential in attack is very big," Luis Enrique said after the game. "Let's hope the best is yet to come."
And Neymar added: "We played a great game. We have to keep on improving, but I am happy to help my team-mates."
That help has been invaluable to Messi in particular. Back on form and back in the last four, the support of Suarez and Neymar is a big boost for Barca, leaving Luis Enrique's side arguably favourites as the tournament reaches its defining spell.
Source: Goal
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