Barcelona of 2015/16 v Barcelona of 2010/11

Barcelona set a club record of 29 games in all competitions without defeat as a much-changed side drew 1-1 with Valencia in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, surpassing the previous mark set by Josep Guardiola's team between September 2010 and January 2011. UEFA.com analyses the differences and similarities between the all-conquering sides.

Personnel
There has been both continuity and evolution in the Barcelona squad over the last five years, with Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano still holding down a starting place, although their roles have changed. Take Messi, who plays deeper and tends to drift out to either wing.

He has retained his hunger for goals, but is equally happy to supply strike partners Luis Suárez and Neymar. The presence of the Uruguayan international and the Brazil forward is the main difference between the teams, making Luis Enrique's XI more top heavy. Guardiola's lineup hinged on a midfield axis lead by Xavi Hernández, who left the club last summer.

Strengths
Guardiola's obsession with possession had a doubly fortifying effect: it gave his team total control of games, allowing them to conserve energy as they seldom found themselves chasing the ball. They could tire out the opposition by holding onto the ball for long periods, or mesmerise them with quick short-passing combinations. Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United were one of many victims, the Scot remarking: "Xavi and Iniesta have never given the ball away in their lives."

Luis Enrique's side share the same technical qualities but are more unpredictable, mixing up long periods of possession with rapid counterattacks. Suárez's winner against Real Madrid last season, assisted by a long ball from Alves, demonstrated the strength of their direct play. And last week the former Liverpool man finished off a devastating break against Valencia, started by an interception and pass out wide by Neymar.

Weaknesses
Although they were the supreme team in Europe, Guardiola's side occasionally struggled to prise open opponents who sat back and put men behind the ball. This happened more often towards the end of his reign in 2012, Barcelona losing the Liga title to a Real Madrid side that perfected the counterattack and being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the semi-final stage by Chelsea despite playing most of the home second leg with an extra man.

Luis Enrique's charges, meanwhile, have found themselves susceptible to high pressing. Atlético Madrid, Málaga and Levante have made life tough for them in 2016, even though the Azulgrana eventually ran out winners in each game thanks to the ruthlessness of their attacking triumvirate.