Top scorer, most expensive players and more: 7 things to know about Barca B this season

Following an 11-game winless streak, Barcelona B are finally back on track, winning all of their last 4 games in the Spanish third tier.

Here is what you should know about Blaugrana's second team this season.

Manager

Sergi Barjuan is the head coach of Barca B. The former Blaugrana star was the first-team interim coach before the club hired Xavi in November.

The 50-year-old almost lost his job in March, but Joan Laporta reportedly had 'blind faith' in his close friend. Seems like it paid off.

League position

Barcelona B are currently 12th in the league table, with the same number of points as Real Madrid Castilla (10th).

Surprisingly, the Catalans now stand a chance of taking part in the promotion playoffs once again. They are just 3 points behind the 5th place that guarantees a playoff spot.

Barca B are also 7 points ahead of Sanluqueno in 16th place. The last 5 teams get relegated, so Blaugrana should feel safe for now.

Top scorers

Ferran Jutgla is easily the team's most prolific goalscorer with 13 – and this despite the fact that he missed some games due to being called up to the senior team.

Jutgla is followed by 25-year-old striker Angel Rodado (6 goals) who is on loan from Segunda side Ibiza.

Attacking midfielder Matheus Pereira completes the top 3 with 4 goals.

Top assistant

Ez Abde leads the way with 6 goal-leading passes. All of those assists came in his last 8 league games for Barca B which is really impressive.

Most expensive players

1. Ez Abde - €8m

2. Alejandro Balde - €5m

3. Ilias Akhomach - €3m

4. Jandro Orellana - €2m

5. Arnau Tenas - €1.5m

5. Kays Ruiz-Atil - €1.5m

5. Ferran Jutgla - €1.5m

Interestingly, all of those players - except for Orellana who's considered a potential Sergio Busquets successor - have trained or played for the first team already.

How they line up

Here is Barca B's starting eleven from their latest game against Villarreal B.

Carevic; Diounkou, Comas, Marmol, Balde; Pereira, Sanz, Aranda; Fabio Blanco, Jutgla, Abde.

Lots of familiar names here.

Talented Lazar Carevic is in goal when Arnau Tenas makes the first-team matchday squad list.

At right-back, Barca's Senegalese signing Alpha Diounkou plays – we've once profiled him.

The centre-back pairing of Arnau Comas and Mika Marmol is easily Barjuan's best available choice. The two players were tested by Xavi in a friendly game against Boca Juniors in December.

Alvaro Sanz has even featured for the first team in La Liga and Copa del Rey under Xavi.

Antonio Aranda is a Granada loanee who has recorded 7 goal contributions in 22 games for Barca B this term.

I'm sure you've heard about Fabio Blanco too. Xavi has hinted at a possible first-team call-up of the 18-year-old in the summer.

Players who could be called up to senior team

Jutgla and Abde aside, they are Jandro Orellana, Fabio Blanco and Mika Marmol.

The latter's first-team presence might be particularly important since he is a left-footed centre-back – and Barca are said to be looking for such players.

Source: Transfermarkt