The 15 games that could land Barça the treble
Barca head into the home straight with one goal
Barcelona head into the final stretch of the season with the chance to win every single title. The treble is within the Blaugrana’s sights again, but to win all three gongs again they need to do a job in the remaining 15 games from now until the end of the season.
In those 15 games Barça are playing for the La Liga title -- where they have an 11-point advantage over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid – the Copa del Rey final against Sevilla and are bidding to reach the Champions League final in Kiev.
This is a new situation for Ernesto Valverde, but not for Barça. Barça have been in this situation twice before. They lead the Liga standings after week 29 when they won it all under Pep Guardiola in 2008/09 and under Luis Enrique in 2014/15.
Both those feats came in those managers’ first seasons in charge, and lest we forget, this is Valverde’s maiden campaign at Can Barça too.
Barça are playing for the entire season and the treble in 15 games.
After the international break it will be non-stop. Game after game after game until the Champions League final. A series of games that Ernesto Valverde will need his players to give everything if he is to match the achievements of Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
Statistics are on Valverde and Barcelona's side. Valverde also has the opportunity to set a new Liga record for points in a season, currently held by Tito Vilanova and Jose Mourinho on 100, and the chance to finish the season with one of the best defensive records of all time.
With the Liga title practically wrapped up and with the chance to clinch it in the Clasico at Camp Nou, Valverde may be able to rotate his squad in the league in a bid to ensure they win the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
The Copa should not be difficult to win: all that's left is the final against Sevilla, who Barça have beaten on many occasions. Much harder will be the path towards the Champions League. Quarter-final opponents Roma are in theory comfortable opponents although they are having a good season. It is unknown who they will face in the semi-finals or final should they get past the Italians.
Whoever it is, Barça are in a great position to try and win the treble once again and make Valverde the third coach in the club's history to pull off this incredible feat in his first year in the Barça dugout.
Barça's remaining fixtures
LIGA SANTANDER 2017 / 2018
• 31/03/2018: Sevilla - FC Barcelona (week 30)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2017 / 2018
• 04/04/2018: FC Barcelona - Roma (quarter-finals first leg)
LIGA SANTANDER 2017 / 2018
• 07/04/2018: FC Barcelona - Leganés (week 31)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2017 / 2018
• 10/04/2018: Roma - FC Barcelona (quarter-finals second leg)
LIGA SANTANDER 2017 / 2018
• 15/04/2018: FC Barcelona - Valencia (week 32)
• 18/04/2018: Celta - FC Barcelona (week 33)
COPA DEL REY 2017 / 2018
• 21/04/2018: FC Barcelona - Sevilla (final)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2017 / 2018
• 24/25/04/2018: (Semi-final first leg)
LIGA SANTANDER 2017 / 2018
• 29/04/2018: Deportivo - FC Barcelona (week 35)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2017 / 2018
• 02/05/2018: Semi-final second leg)
LIGA SANTANDER 2017 / 2018
• 06/05/2018: FC Barcelona - Real Madrid (week 36))
• 09/05/2018. FC Barcelona - Villarreal (week 34, rearranged)
• 13/05/2018: Levante - FC Barcelona (week 37)
• 20/05/2018: FC Barcelona - Real Sociedad (Week 38)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2017 / 2018
• 26/05/2018: Final
