Barcelona

The Catalan giants have ongoing financial problems but have managed to make some statement signings this summer, including Robert Lewandowski, and the club will be hoping that the Poland international can score the goals to help them in their bid to return to former glories.

Barcelona's 2021-22 campaign came to a close with a 2-0 loss at home to Villarreal, and the club will be pleased to have seen the back of what was a testing season for a number of reasons, with Xavi replacing Ronald Koeman at the helm towards the end of last year after a poor run of form.

It is now three seasons without a league trophy for the Catalan outfit, finishing second, third and second since last lifting the title in 2018-19.

There are plenty of reasons for the team's supporters to be positive ahead of the new season, though, and Sports Mole has taken a look at the upcoming campaign for Blaugrana.

FIXTURES

Barcelona will begin their 2022-23 La Liga campaign at home to Rayo Vallecano on August 13 before travelling to Real Sociedad in their second game of the season on August 21.

The first Clasico of the season will take place away to Real Madrid in the middle of October, while they will travel to Osasuna on November 8 in their final match before the season breaks for the 2022 World Cup.

Barcelona will be back in action at the end of December, welcoming Espanyol in the Catalan derby, before opening the new year with a trip to Wanda Metropolitano to take on Atletico Madrid.

The second league Clasico of the campaign will take place at Camp Nou in the middle of March, while Xavi's side will welcome Atletico to Camp Nou towards the end of April.

Barcelona will not finish their league season until the start of June, facing a trip to Celta Vigo on the final weekend, while May will see the club take on Osasuna, Espanyol, Real Sociedad, Real Valladolid and Mallorca.

SUMMER SIGNINGS

In

Pablo Torre (£4.3m, Racing de Santander)

Franck Kessie (free, AC Milan)

Andreas Christensen (free, Chelsea)

Raphinha (£49m, Leeds United)

Robert Lewandowski (£42.5m, Bayern Munich)

Jules Kounde (£45m, Sevilla)

Out

Philippe Coutinho (£17m, Aston Villa)

Ferran Jutgla (£4.3m, Club Brugge)

Dani Alves (free, Pumas)

Clement Lenglet (loan, Tottenham Hotspur)

Rey Manaj (undisclosed, Watford)

Francisco Trincao (loan, Sporting Lisbon)

Oscar Mingueza (£2.7m, Celta Vigo)

Riqui Puig (free, LA Galaxy)

Neto (free, Bournemouth)

Moussa Wague (free, Gorica)

Barcelona total spent to date: £140.8m

Barcelona total received to date: £24m

Barcelona net transfer balance: -£116.8m

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena

Defenders: Sergino Dest, Gerard Pique, Ronald Araujo, Jordi Alba, Samuel Umtiti, Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Gavi, Nico Gonzalez, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie de Jong, Franck Kessie

Forwards: Ousmane Dembele, Memphis Depay, Ansu Fati, Martin Braithwaite, Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski

STRONGEST XI

STAR PLAYER - Pedri

A case could be made for Lewandowski in this category, but Pedri has the credentials to be Barcelona's most important player during the 2022-23 campaign.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a stunning first season at Camp Nou, making 52 appearances in all competitions, but the 2021-22 campaign proved to be a frustrating one due to injury, featuring on only 22 occasions.

Despite not turning 20 until November, Pedri is a leading player for both Barcelona and Spain, and if fit, he will be in the starting XI for his club for the majority of the campaign.

The teenager has a long way to go if he is to emulate the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi, but there is no question that he is one of the most outstanding youngsters in world football.

There are now a number of big names at Barcelona once again, but it could be the teenager from the Canary Islands who is the glue to pull it all together in the new campaign.

MANAGER - Xavi

Legendary midfielder Xavi represented Barcelona as a player between 1984 and 2015, making 767 appearances for the Catalan giants, winning eight La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey crowns and four Champions Leagues.

The former Spain international eventually left for Al Sadd, representing them as a player between 2015 and 2019 before becoming their manager, taking charge of over 100 matches.

Following a host of speculation, Xavi was appointed Barcelona head coach last November, and he now boasts a record of 21 wins, nine draws and eight defeats from his 38 matches at the helm.

Barcelona were eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League and quarter-finals of the Europa League last term, but they finished second in La Liga behind Real Madrid, which has to go down as a success considering their difficulties; at one stage, it did appear that a top-four spot would be a struggle.

Xavi has been backed with a number of signings this summer, and he knows what it takes to win major trophies.

There were some disappointing moments for the former midfielder in his first half-season at the helm, but he would have learned plenty, and Barcelona should be able to challenge for major silverware in the new campaign.

LAST SEASON - Second

The first half of the 2021-22 campaign was turbulent for Barcelona, and the atmosphere became toxic during the latter stages of Koeman's tenure, when it became obvious that a change was needed.

Lionel Messi's departure last summer sent shockwaves around the world of football, and it would be fair to say that the club have struggled to move on from the Argentine's exit.

Second in La Liga is always seen as a failure by the club, who ultimately finished 13 points behind champions Real Madrid, but on this occasion, it was a success considering how the campaign started.

Boasting a record of 21 wins, 10 draws and seven defeats from 38 matches, the Catalan side were able to claim 73 points, which left them two points clear of third-place Atletico Madrid and six clear of Real Betis in fifth.

Barcelona went out in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey last season and were also knocked out in the group stage of the Champions League, forcing them to play in the Europa League for the first time since 2003.

Eintracht Frankfurt beat them in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, so it was a season without a trophy, but there were plenty of positive signs for the club ahead of the new campaign.

PREDICTION

Barcelona have made some statement signings this summer, bringing in Christensen, Kessie, Raphinha, Lewandowski and Kounde, and more could follow before the end of the window.

Meanwhile, if Pedri and Fati can enjoy injury-free campaigns, it could be a special season for the club, who are packed full of talent and have some outstanding youngsters ready to play important roles.

We are expecting the Catalan side to seriously challenge Real Madrid for the title next season, in addition to being a force in the Champions League, but Xavi's team could fall just short in their bid to win La Liga, with Real Madrid potentially having just enough to finish at the summit once again.

VERDICT: Second