ESTADIO RAMON SANCHEZ PIZJUAN, SEVILLE, MADRID, SPAIN - 2019/02/23: Luis Suarez (FC Barcelona) seen celebrating after scoring a goal during the La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Futbol Club Barcelona at Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, Spain. ( Final score; Sevilla FC 2:4 Futbol Club Barcelona ). (Photo by Manu Reino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Luis Suárez scored Barcelona’s final goal in the 4-2 win over Sevilla

Since the beginning of Ernesto Valverde’s reign as Barcelona head coach, Luis Suárez has suffered from the potentially career-ending issue of complacency. In order for the 32-year old Uruguayan centre-forward to perform, he needs to be under immense pressure.

This fact has been proven time and time again over the past couple of years. Last season, Suárez was almost universally criticised for his dependence on Lionel Messi to find the back of net, and his overall lack of motivation and his theatrics on the pitch.

But he replied to his critics by scoring and assisting 3 goals apiece in the first 5 games of the season. Then, Suárez went on a dry run before making a dramatic comeback to form. Again, it was instigated by pressure as Leo Messi suffered an arm injury.

In the absence of the Argentine maestro, Suárez scored a marvelous hat-trick as Barça romped to a 5-1 victory over Real Madrid. His finishing and poacher’s instinct was on display as Los Merengues were absolutely annihilated at the Camp Nou.

After his Clásico display, Suárez shone in the 3-0 victory over Eibar before performing yet again in a high-stakes situation in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Sevilla. ‘El Pistolero’ netted Barça’s penultimate goal in a dramatic comeback win.

His next goal also came against Sevilla, after failing to add to his tally for a run of 5 games. Suárez scored Barça’s last goal in a 4-2 away win against Los Nervionsenses. After Messi had put him through on goal with a brilliant lofted pass, he chipped it over the onrushing Tomáš Vaclík.

The Uruguay international had started the match on a distasteful note, doing almost nothing for the entirety of the first-half. But he empirically proved that he had come into the game amidst a wave of criticism as he improved considerably in the second-half.

Suárez’s goal was the culmination of his second-half performance. It is a very good sign going into an important run of fixtures, which includes the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid and the following La Liga Clásico.

Hopefully, his goal will not be one of his standalone ones which do not lead to a good run of form. Most of his goals this season have just allayed fears of his decline, but have not translated into momentum, which would be beneficial for Barça.

But his goal against Sevilla is important because it shows his ability to get back up when he’s down. In the last few games, he had been struggling and failed to finish even easy chances in important games like the first leg of the Champions League last 16 against Lyon.

In fact, Barça have tried to accelerate the search for Suárez’s successor due to his recent performances. But due to immense pressure, he has hit back with a gorgeous goal in an important victory against top opposition.