What system and team should Koeman use until the end of the season?

The last break, the last disconnection ahead of the run-in. Ahead, 11 games for Barcelona, who have no margin for error if they want to win the double. 10 league matches and the Copa del Rey final against Athletic at La Cartuja in Seville.

In these days Ronald Koeman is working with six or seven players from the first team, with most on international duty.

That gives time to reflect and for some to recover, with Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto and Gerard Pique on the comeback trail. The next game is April 3, against Real Valladolid. How should Barcelona approach the rest of the season?

NEW DISCOVERY

Koeman seems to have hit the nail on the head with the 3-4-2-1. The club’s best game was their last game, a 6-1 win over Real Sociedad. The team flew, but they had also shown similar performances against Sevilla, at El Sadar, at PSG and at home against Huesca.

It would be strange for Koeman to give it up at this point, with clashes against Real Madrid, Atletico and the cup final ahead.

However opponents may start to work out Barcelona’s system and create problems.

RETURNING PLAYERS

There is a sweet dilemma for Koeman, who gets some chess pieces back in the form of Araujo and Pique, who are likely to come into the team with Mingueza sacrificed - although he could come in ahead of Lenglet form dependent. De Jong would return to midfield in that position, but it raises a question over Pedri. He seems undroppable. Dembele and Messi too. Griezmann is on the least stable ground.

The 3-4-2-1 might then be: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Pique, Lenglet; Dest, Busquets, De Jong, Alba; Pedri, Messi; Dembele.

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