10 reasons to believe Barcelona can win a third treble

Ernesto Valverde and his Barcelona players have not indulged the supporters and the press in recent weeks when the subject of winning the treble has been raised. Are there reasons to believe the Catalan side can win it for a third time in a decade? 

Barça's caution is more than justified. Even though they beat Roma (4-1), there were times in the game when it was shown that you can't relax in the Champions League. At 3-0, for example, Barça switched off and Roma battered the door down, eventually getting an way goal through Dzeko. 

However, after the game, the reality is that Barça have one foot in the semifinals. And it's not impossible to imagine them winning another treble. Here's why: 

1. BEST PLACED IN THREE COMPETITIONS 

Three teams can dream of a treble: Barça, Bayern and, to a lesser extend, Juventus. Barça are top of La Liga by a distance, in the Copa del Rey final and have a 4-1 lead against Roma. 

Bayern are about to win the Bundesliga, have a cup semifinal (against Leverkusen) to come and have the advantage over Sevilla in Europe (1-2). Juve, though, lost 3-0 to Real Madrid -- although they're top of Serie A and in the Coppa final on May 9.  

2. CAME THROUGH INTERNATIONAL BREAK 

Barça had 16 players away during the international break while Sergio Busquets was recovering from a broken foot and Lionel Messi was wrapped in cotton wool. 

However, only Lucas Digne got injured and Barça have come through a difficult week just about unscathed, drawing at Sevilla and beating Roma. Valverde may take the chance to give some players a breather in the next week as a marathon of games kicks in. 

3. CONSISTENT 

Barça have only lost three of their 49 games this season. They lost twice in the Spanish Super Cup to Real Madrid before going unbeaten for 29 games, eventually losing to Espanyol in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal. They have gone 17 games unbeaten since then. 

This Saturday, against Leganes, they can match the longest ever unbeaten streak in La Liga -- 38, set by Real Sociedad in 1980. 

4. A SOLID DEFENCE 

Ernesto Valverde doesn't tire of reminding that 'his' Barça are an attacking team. And they are. But it's also true they are solid in defence. 

They have kepy 31 clean sheets in their 49 games (six in Europe, six in the Copa and 19 in La Liga). They've conceded fewer than anyyone else still in the Champions League (three -- Liverpool are next with six) and only Atletico have a better record in La Liga (15-14). 

5. Ter Stegen THE GREAT 

Barça's excellent record in defence is largely down to collective organisation, good pressing and holding on to the possession. But it's also thanks to Marc-Andre ter Stegen's brilliant form. Against Roma, he made two brilliant saves, the first correcting an error. 

6. Valverde's BALANCE  

Guardiola's Barça were surprising; Luis Enrique's Barça were direct; Valverde's Barça are relaxed, finding the balance to let the stars shine. 

Valverde's changed 4-3-3 for 4-4-2, getting the best out of Iniesta, Rakitic and Alba... without losing Messi or Busquets and despite the loss of Neymar. 

The coach has been true to the club's style: attacking football, one-touch play, possession... But he has also been happy, at times, to make his team more like Frank Rijkaard's Barça (who had Ronaldinho as the star with the help of Edgar Davids) that Pep's. 

7. TEAM WITH PURPOSE 

Piqué, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic, Messi, Luis Suárez... Barça's spine is made up by veterans of the team with immense talent and thousands of minutes at the top level. They know how to manage a game. 

Maybe they're not always the most brilliant, but they are the most effective. And when the big games come, they seem to tise to the occasion. For example, Luis Suarez took a while to get going in La Liga but is now the second top scorer in the league with 22, level with Ronaldo and four behind Messi. In the Champions League, he hadn't scored this season in the competition... until Roma. 

8. HISTORY VS. Sevilla

Sevilla are the team Barça must beat to win the Copa del Rey part of their treble. History is in their favour. Barça beat them 2-1 at home this season and drew 2-2 at the Sanchez Pizjuan last week, that remarkable recovery. 

Since they lost the UEFA Super Cup to them 3-0 in 2006, Barça have beaten Sevilla in four finals: Spanish Super Cup 2010-11 (3-1 and 4-0), UEFA Super Cup 2015-16 (5-4), Copa del Rey 2015-16 (2-0) and Spanish Super Cup 2016-17 (0-2 and 3-0).

The last eight games between the two sides have seen seven Barça wins and one draw. 

9. JUST 10 GAMES TO GO 

As of today, Barça must win one Copa del Rey game, four Champions League games and five of eight league games to win the treble. But if things change in La Liga, that could decrease. The two Madrid sides meet this weekend. 

10. THE Messi FACTOR 

In team sports, one players doesn't equal a team, especially not in football. But the footballer most like a team is Messi. Because of his talent to individually decide games, but above all because of how he makes his teammates better. And DIOS wears Blaugrana.