In the last ten minutes of Barça’s game against Celta on Saturday, the attention switched. That game was already won. But what about the next one? Conversations were tentatively starting in the stands about the possibility of turning it around against Paris St Germain. “If the front three carry on in this form…quizas” Perhaps.

So, do Barça believe?

Maybe not everyone, but there is a feeling. Around the same time those conversations began in the Celta game, banners started appearing behind the goal where the ultras sit. Each carried a different slogan, but the overall message and accompanying hashtag was the same.

#JoHiCrec. I believe.

And with the banners came a chant. Again it was started by the ultras behind the goal, and at first it failed to catch on. But then, cautiously at first, others started joining in until it was being sung in little pockets all around the ground. “Si se puede! Si se puede!” Yes we can.

But can they? Really? Can Barça come back from 4-0 down in the first leg to reach the Champions League quarter final? It’s still pretty unlikely. This morning, both of the local newspapers were making a point of the fact that it has never happened before, while pointing to other near impossible sporting achievements that could offer hope to Barça.

What’s clear, however, is that the weight that was so clearly impeding the players in Paris seems to have been lifted in the last week.

Losing their identity?

That’s not to say there aren’t still quite a few problems with this Barça team. There are. Not least the fact that their very identity seems to have been eroding over the last couple of years. The idea of controlling games from the midfield no longer being so important was epitomised in the game in Paris. One of the most striking things about that game was the sight of Barça’s midfield being dominated.

For a long time, the strike force has been a double edged sword. Messi, Neymar and Suarez are undoubtedly the best front three in Europe. But they’re so good that the ball often goes to them too soon. Bypassing the midfield completely.

Still, what a front three it is! I’ve watched games at Camp Nou this season where Barça really haven’t played that well but have won 4-0 or 5-0. I can’t think of any other team that would be capable of that.

Even at their lowest ebb last week, before Luis Enrique announced he wouldn’t continue as manager next season, Barça still travelled to Atletico Madrid and won. What’s that old line about winning when you don’t play well being a sign of champions?

A few weeks ago, people were talking as if the title race was done. Madrid had it more or less wrapped up. But a glance at the league table now tells a different story. Barça are top by one point, albeit having played a game more than Madrid. Their goal difference is also 14 ahead of Madrid’s. They’ve won their last 6 league games. And this is a team in crisis?

Great expectations

A crisis for FC Barcelona might constitute a pretty successful season for 99% of other clubs around the world.

But this is a team where the bar is set almost impossibly high. Uninterrupted success over the last eight years has helped to create it, although it existed before, too. The reverence that so many fans have for Guardiola and Cruyff doesn’t help. The difficulty other managers have in matching up can’t be overstated. Not many managers will ever be able to do so.

Some fans who I’ve spoken to inside Camp Nou feel like Luis Enrique has just got lucky in having such an incredible attack. That their brilliance often papers over his tactical cracks. Some even go as far as blaming him for the club losing its soul. For throwing away the “Barça way” guidebook written by Cruyff and perfected by Guardiola.

Front three hitting form

That might sound harsh, but there have certainly been some strange decisions taken by the manager this season. Still, he seems determined to go out on a high. And the players are playing like they want him too, as well.

There was little surprise among Barça fans that Enrique decided to step down last week. But they weren’t expecting an announcement this early. Time will tell whether the timing of the announcement will be a help or a hindrance to the team. There’s only been one game since the announcement was made, but it was won 5-0. And against a Celta Vigo team who aren’t mugs, having beaten Barça 4-3 in Vigo back in October, and more recently knocked second favourites Shaktar Donetsk out of the Europa League. Barça looked liberated.

Paris St Germain are undoubtedly another step up in quality, but there are signs of Barça’s front three hitting form at just the right time. And when all three of them are on song, it can be very difficult to keep them out.

In the past week, Barça have played twice at Camp Nou. They’ve won 6-1 and 5-0. Tonight is the third game of the week in this venue, and either one of those results would see Barça pull off the biggest of all comebacks.

If an early goal is scored tonight at Camp Nou, don’t be surprised to hear the “si se puede” chant once again. And if a second goes in, the supporters might just start believing it themselves.