Barcelona 2023-24 season preview: Paper-thin Blaugrana face uphill battle if they want to kick on under Xavi

Barca might have difficulty replicating their success from last year. Xavi's side had a strange habit of winning games without playing particularly well, relying on a stout backline and the timely goals of Lewandowski to carry them to victories. It worked for a year, but the level of performance suggests it might not be sustainable.

Still, they will fancy their chances in La Liga, and a repeat isn't out of the question. Real Madrid will undoubtedly be stronger than last year, and it will likely be a dead heat for most of the season. Win the Clasicos, don't drop points to the relegation-threatened sides and Barca could do it.

Elsewhere, it's up in the air. Barca have been miserable in Europe under Xavi, and had little success against top-tier European opposition in pre-season. Still, Barca will probably get out of their Champions League group. A quarter-final appearance, and eventual loss, is probably realistic — not that fans will like it.

This team goes as far as the young players can take them. If Pedri stays fit, Gavi develops, and Ansu Fati sticks around, the Blaugrana could be dangerous. Add in some consistency from Raphinha and the usual glut of goals from Lewandowski, and Barca might develop into a real attacking force.

Couple that with the usual defensive excellence, and the sky is the limit. A La Liga title certainly seems within reach, and a Champions League run is possible — especially if Barca bring in an extra player or two. A Copa del Rey win, especially if they get a kind draw, isn't out of the question either.

At best, Barca do a domestic double, and probably make it to the Champions League semis before being knocked out by a more experienced European outfit. That certainly wouldn't be a bad season at all. It would also give hope that this project will only continue to grow.

If Barca get found out defensively, this could get very messy. Xavi's side are certainly good enough as a unit to finish second in La Liga, but if the injuries hit, they could slip to third — especially with Atletico Madrid looking dangerous.

There's also a chance that new additions Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu don't gel, and Barca are left missing Busquets and pining for Messi. That could well breed some serious discontent around the club, and put Xavi on the hot seat.

Regardless, this is a team that will now be judged by its European performances. At worst, Barcelona don't make it through their group, drop into the Europa League, run into a dangerous opponent — perhaps Liverpool — and get knocked out.

After winning La Liga, a trophyless season would be an absolute disaster in Catalonia.

Last season, you probably would have said this is Lewandowski's team. After all, the Pole was their marquee signing, a top player with an immaculate goalscoring pedigree.

But over the course of the campaign,Ronald Araujo made it clear that he is the key to Barca's success. The Uruguayan centre-back was immense as the Blaugrana cruised to the league title, anchoring Europe's best defence. He achieved the kind of consistency that very few defenders have in recent years, while also developing as a passer. Already among the world's best, he could get even better.

A nod should also go to Pedri. The Spanish starlet is immensely gifted and certainly improved last year before struggling with injuries. His fitness problems are surely a concern, but a full season on the pitch could see him become a generational talent.

It is no secret that Barca are struggling financially. For all of club president Joan Laporta's levers, they will find themselves limited in the final weeks of the transfer window. The biggest, most promising, name to walk through the door so far is Ilkay Gundogan. And he's certainly not a bad addition whatsoever.

The former Man City midfielder was vital to the reigning English champions' success over the last few seasons and will look to replicate that form in Catalonia. He might take a while to bed in — there's no obvious spot for him in the line-up — but figures to be an immense part of this team's potential success once he's a regular.

There's talk of a few other signings, too. Bernardo Silva could yet make a move, while an extra right-back wouldn't hurt. Ivan Fresneda is a promising target, but wouldn't be an immediate starter. Vitor Roque has also been added, but won't arrive until the 2024-25 season. Watch this space, though. If Laporta finds a way to raise some more cash, the Blaugrana could be active once again.

The following must be established about Lamine Yamal: he is not the new Lionel Messi. No one is, and no one can be. The comparisons have already started in the Spanish media, and the buzz around the teenager is growing.

But there is good reason for excitement. Yamal has been immensely exciting in short stints, and led Barca to victory over Tottenham in the Joan Gamper trophy. Quick, skilful, and composed in the final third, Yamal offers an attacking punch off the right — something that Barca will miss with the departure of Dembele.

It remains to be seen how significant his role will be. Yamal is just 16, and Xavi will be in no rush to integrate him at such a young age. A few Copa del Rey starts aren't out of the question, while he might also play sparingly in La Liga.

This is a pretty well-established Barca side, and no one's position is particularly under threat. However, Jules Kounde could be feeling the heat a little - especially if Barca sign a right-back. Kounde has been vocal about his dislike of playing on the right side of defence, and was even switched to a central role for the last two games of pre-season.

But Araujo is simply a better centre-back, leaving Kounde exiled to the right for now. He performed admirably at the position for most of last season, doing a solid job defensively, while also developing as an attacking threat. Still, if a more natural right-back comes in, and Kounde lets his form dip, there could be a few questions asked. For now, he will have to embrace a role he openly dislikes.

After a miserable return to Camp Nou, Xavi has finally turned things around. The former Barca midfielder has done an admirable job at the helm, piecing together a solid team with a reliable system. They aren't always a great watch, but Barcelona get results, and it's hard to criticise him for that.

He will now be tasked with achieving even better. Expectations are high this year, and Xavi will be expected to enjoy a successful Champions League campaign. It's admittedly odd that the manager hasn't managed to win in Europe before, given the success of his teams domestically.

He could point to injuries or unfortunate draws, but now there are no excuses. Xavi has to win in Europe to satisfy the fans and establish himself among Europe's elite.

Where do we start? Barcelona have an established line-up but are markedly thin in a number of positions.

Perhaps the most obvious, though, is at defensive midfield. Busquets enjoyed a solid final campaign in Barca last year, and the club haven't really replaced him. Oriol Romeu had his moments in pre-season, but doesn't look like the classic No.6 that Xavi needs to carry his side through the campaign. Maybe Gundogan could do a job for now, but an elite player is a must.

Elsewhere, Barca could really do with full-back cover. Sergi Roberto is the backup for Kounde, and he doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Meanwhile, Marcos Alonso is the only reliable option to fill-in for Alejandro Balde.

There are a few sparing links in the market, but none seem perfect fits. Neymar has been rumoured to want a Barca return, despite there being no obvious role for him. Silva would be a good addition, but attacking midfield isn't really an area of concern. Ditto for Joao Felix, who is also reportedly being considered. It's not time to panic yet, but an injury or two could sound the alarm bells in Barca.

The big question here is whether Gundogan starts or not. He seems to have been signed without true consideration of what, exactly, his best position is. For City, he was an attacking midfielder of sorts. But Barca already have Gavi and Pedri — neither of whom seem set to lose their spot anytime soon.

Xavi deploys a slightly unusual attacking model these days, playing what is nominally a 4-4-2 that stretches into a sort of 3-4-2-1 in attack — using the trendy box midfield adopted by Pep Guardiola.

In terms of the team sheet, it will look something like this:

4-4-2: Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Alejandro Balde; Oriol Romeu, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi; Robert Lewandowksi, Raphinha

Consistency will be the key here. If Barcelona don't repeat in La Liga, or make it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, they should at least make a push. A narrow second-placed finish, for example, wouldn't make fans happy, but would at least show that Barca's success last season wasn't a fluke.

However, there isn't much evidence to suggest that Barca can kick on. This team looks paper thin, and could really struggle if injuries to Araujo and Pedri hit again. Lewandowski's goals also dried up towards the end of last season, which was of minor concern.

So, at worst, it could be a trophyless and disappointing season in Catalonia, one that casts doubt over Xavi's managerial qualities. Barca could get figured out, and if they start conceding goals with any regularity, this could be a really ugly campaign. Repeating is difficult. Barca might not have it in them.

Tough to say. Barca are expected to win the league every year, but will face competition from what appears to be a rejuvenated Madrid side. Chances are, Madrid just about pip them to the title, enjoying the momentum fostered by Carlo Ancelotti's final season in club football.

Barca will probably have enough to get through their Champions League group — although it won't be pretty. After that, though, it's tough to see them making a run, especially given their record against top European sides. The lack of a reliable No.6 will be a key factor in their failure to progress. A regression from Lewandowski, who turns 35 in two weeks, could also hurt the Blaugrana.

But there will be some positives to take. Gavi and Pedri will develop, while Yamal will impress. Improvement from Balde might also offer hope for the future. There's room for excitement, but don't count on success.