Goal nominates the top three stand-out performers for the Blaugrana in 2013-14. Vote for your winner in our poll
It has been a season of unrest at Barcelona. Troubles on and off the pitch have unsettled the Catalan club and the Blaugrana are now in danger of ending the campaign without a major trophy.Things had started so well for Gerardo Martino's men as they claimed the Spanish Supercopa in August, and back in early April the club remained on course for a Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble until a terrible week which saw them knocked out of Europe by Atletico, lose to Real Madrid in the final of the domestic cup and go down against Granada in the Primera Division.
Slip-ups from Atletico and Madrid mean Barca are still in contention for La Liga and can yet finish the season on a high. Below, in alphabetical order, are Goal's three nominees for the club's’s player of the season, based on their club performances in all competitions. Cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of the article.
| LIONEL MESSI |
Injuries have blighted Lionel Messi's season this time around and the Argentine has missed 13 games for the Catalan club in 2013-14. Still, however, he has been incredibly important to the Blaugrana.
A total of 41 goals in 44 games makes him the club's highest scorer by a significant margin this term, with his hat-trick in the 4-3 win at the Santiago Bernabeu the undoubted highlight.
That result saw Barca return to the race for La Liga when all looked lost and with those goals, the Argentine overtook compatriot Alfredo Di Stefano to become the highest goalscorer of all time in the Clasico, with 21 goals.
A hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Valencia back in September was another highlight, as was his three assists against Levante in a 4-1 success back in January, but the Argentine was unable to make an impact in the Copa defeat to Madrid or in the Champions League quarter-final exit to Atletico.
| NEYMAR |
Neymar has taken his fair share of criticism in his debut campaign at Camp Nou, but the Brazilian has had plenty of memorable moments as well for the Catalan club in 2013-14.
The 22-year-old's first goal for Barca gave the Blaugrana a trophy as Martino's men edged out Atletico on away goals in the Spanish Supercopa. Neymar netted in a 1-1 draw at home to Atleti in the Champions League too and is the only Barcelona player to score against Diego Simeone's side in five meetings this term.
The Brazilian also shone in his first Clasico clash against Real Madrid, netting the opening goal and impressing in the Catalans' 2-1 triumph at Camp Nou in October. In the return at the Bernabeu, he won the penalty which brought the crucial equaliser in Barca's 4-3 victory.
Another highlight was his hat-trick in the 6-1 Champions League thrashing of Celtic in December and, overall, Neymar (currently injured) has hit 15 goals from 40 games in his first season at Camp Nou.
| ALEXIS SANCHEZ |
Alexis Sanchez looks set to leave Barcelona this summer, but many fans of the Catalan club are unhappy at his proposed sale after what has been the Chilean's best season yet at Camp Nou.
In and out of the side, Sanchez has played his best football in Spain under Martino and blossomed for Barca, particularly in the early part of the campaign.
Alexis' wonderful winner in the Clasico back in October is one of the finest goals ever seen in the famous fixture, while the forward also netted his first hat-trick for the club in a 4-0 success at home to Elche in January.
Largely ignored for the big games later on in the season, Alexis played only a peripheral part as Barca lost out in the Champions League and the final of the Copa del Rey, but finishes the season with his best numbers since moving to the Catalan club in 2011: 52 games, 20 goals and 15 assists.
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