In football terms, are Barca as good as it gets?

AS Christmas approaches, European football has a reassuringly traditional feel.

Bayern Munich are again winter champions. Benfica and Porto share the lead in the title race. Juventus are two points clear in Serie A. And Maurizio Zamparini has brought the spirit of goodwill to Palermo by sacking his fifth manager in 11 months, equalling the Italian record he set in 2007.

Yet times are changing.