Victory formations

How does Barcelona get these killer trios together? Another one is taking shape, and it promises drama, thrills... maybe a treble?

- Rudraneil Sengupta

On April 10, Barcelona put on an attacking masterclass in the Champions League quarter-final that left Borussia Dortmund decimated. If there was a match to showcase the incredible skills, brains, and speed of the Spanish club's attacking trio, this was it. All four goals in the eventual 4-0 score came through some combination of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.

In creating such havoc in the opposition's box, the trio was following in the footsteps of some of the greatest three-person attacking formations in football.

The most famed of these, of course, featured Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. In the three years that they played together (2014-17), they proved too overwhelming for any team to contain. They were simply faster, stronger and more skilled. They seemed almost telepathically connected.