Barcelona are in the form of their lives. Ten wins from ten matches across all competitions places Hansi Flick's side at the top of LaLiga, six points clear of Atletico Madrid, and firmly among the favourites for Champions League glory. The latest evidence came in Istanbul, where they came from behind to dismantle Galatasaray 4-1, a result that confirmed their growing reputation as one of Europe's most complete sides.

At the centre of everything is Lamine Yamal. Teammate Pau Cubarsi publicly backed him for the Ballon d'Or, and even Galatasaray's Rafael Leao was moved to praise the teenager after the Istanbul performance. Yet the camp has kept its feet on the ground. Rodri, who delivered a frank post-match assessment, joked about Yamal's assist while also identifying defensive vulnerabilities that more clinical opponents could exploit. That self-awareness is a marker of a squad that knows winning streaks alone do not win trophies.

The injury picture is brightening. Both Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong returned to full training on Thursday, handing Flick meaningful reinforcements ahead of Saturday's LaLiga trip to Real Betis. Their return adds depth at a critical stage, with El Clasico against Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou arriving on October 25. Barcelona have confirmed a Tyler, the Creator collaboration for that fixture, the latest chapter in their Spotify-era marketing story. The football, though, remains the main event.