Brilliant Barcelona get the job done in Budapest

Photo by Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images

The team’s 100 percent record intact after five games

That’s as good as Barca have played all season and it was simply wonderful to watch.

Breathtaking at times, particularly in the opening half hour, there was more than enough to get excited about.

Kudos to Ronald Koeman for picking an attacking line-up with a mixture of experience and youth that smothered Ferencvaros from the opening whistle.

Props too to the front three who, in this set up look solid as a unit and dangerous.

We’ve spoken a lot about Martin Braithwaite on this forum recently, but I’ll make no apology for doing so again.

With goals comes confidence, and the Dane is certainly giving Koeman food for thought. On current form, there’s no chance he’s benched – no matter the opposition.

Photo by Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images

An exquisite backheel goal from Antoine Griezmann was the moment of the match and indicates that he too is starting to reap the rewards under Koeman’s system.

There’s never been a problem with the Frenchman’s work ethic, but the lack of goals never matched the industry.

Ousmane Dembele is beginning to show the form that we all knew he could produce but rarely has since signing for the club. Injuries have been his biggest enemy, and if he’s able to get a run of games uninterrupted now, there’s no ceiling to what he can achieve.

Giving him the armband in the second half was a nice touch from Koeman, and hints at man-management skills par excellence. Dembele has often been accused of lacking motivation, and that carrot is a master stroke.

Defensively, Barca were never troubled, and in Sergino Dest, they really do have a gem of a young player.

One that immediately fits the mould of the club and looks like he’s played in the right-back slot all of his career.

Photo by Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images

The win sees the 100 percent record – the only one in this season’s Champions League – continue, and that shouldn’t be underplayed either.

Considering the turmoil this year, to be in a position to, potentially, win all of the group matches for the first time since 2002 has to be recognised and celebrated.

All in all, it was a job very well done indeed, particularly when you consider this was a top drawer performance without Lionel Messi.

The one note of caution to be sounded – sorry - relates to whether the squad can transfer this form to their domestic assignments.

Barca in La Liga in 2020/21 have been the complete opposite of ‘Champions League Barca,’ and there’s no logical reason for such a marked difference.

Starting with Cadiz on Saturday, let’s see more of this please…

PS - An XI with Puig, Konrad, Alena, Dest, Trincao, Mingueza - La Masia no es toca!

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