Barcelona are in the form of their lives. Hansi Flick's side have won all four La Liga matches this season, scoring 17 goals in the process, and their 5-0 destruction of Valencia at Mestalla last weekend was the clearest statement yet of a team operating with genuine conviction. They sit top of the table on 12 points, five clear of second-placed Deportivo Alaves, and carry that momentum into a Champions League opener against Feyenoord at Spotify Camp Nou today.

The squad picture is not without complications. Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji are both sidelined through injury, and Eric Garcia is suspended after picking up a knock at Mestalla, though the defender has been confirmed to have avoided serious damage. New signing Gabriel Jesus, who arrived from Arsenal in the final hours of the summer window for a reported €10 million, made his debut against Valencia and delivered an emotional response to pulling on the Blaugrana shirt. His arrival adds depth to a forward line already led by Lamine Yamal, who continues to grow as one of Europe's most dangerous attackers.

Off the pitch, the club has quietly instructed Flick to avoid engaging with Jose Mourinho, who has returned to Real Madrid, as Barcelona look to stay above any mind games ahead of what promises to be a charged Clasico rivalry this season. The focus for now, though, is Europe.