Barcelona Messi, Ter Stegen, Paulinho and Umtiti

Barcelona leads LaLiga with ease and it has as much to do with Ernesto Valverde's fabulous four as anything.

Their trajectory in terms of results is faultless, with nine victories and a single draw at Atletico Madrid.

Whilst Lionel Messi is already working normally, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Samuel Umtiti deserve a share of the plaudits too.

They are two indispensable reasons why the team has only conceded three goals.

The magnificent Paulinho is another, a player who has helped in both facets, with goals and giving great strength to the team in midfield too.

MESSI

The great leader of this Barcelona for many years, he knows that his team needs him more than ever and he's responding like the incredible talent he is.

He has 12 goals in LaLiga to which we must add another four in other competitions.

In five games so far in 2017/18, he has opened the scoring.

TER STEGEN

Has made several stops of enormous value in points terms.

If Messi is important, ter Stegen's work is also a determining factor in several matches.

Saves at the Estadio Nuevo San Mames were the clearest example of his authority, but he'd done it before against Alaves, Eibar, Girona and Atletico.

He is the great legacy of Zubizarreta to this team, signed when he was a relative stranger.

UMTITI

A brick wall in the centre of defence.

Barcelona has only let in three goals and this is mainly thanks to the excellent performance of Umtiti.

He's had an extraordinary season and will be a starter for the next few years.

PAULINHO

Made an immediate impact even though very few trusted him.

His price seemed exorbitant at 40 million euros, and he didn't have the profile of a midfielder that Barcelona normally go for.

However, the Brazilian has shut everyone up with his performances and his goals.