Thanks for the Memories, Pedro.

We look back at Pedro's time with Barça with his most memorable moments.

With Pedro bidding farewell to Barça, Blaugrana fans will loss a player who might not have been the most talented player to ever play for Barça, but one who played his heart out for the club. We look back at his time with the club with his most memorable goals that he scored for Barça.

UEFA Super Cup Shakhtar 2009-2010

This is the goal that put him on the map. Not many knew who Pedro was when he came on the pitch to replace Ibrahimovic. Nevertheless, he broke the scoreless deadlock and began the path to become the first player to score a goal in six different competitions.

2009 FIFA Club World Cup Estudiantes

The equalizing goal that seemed unlikely to happen. Pedro’s header in the 88th minute forced the game into extra time where Messi would score the game winner against Estudiantes. The latter would not have happened if not for Pedro’s goal.

El Clasico 2009-2010

The insurance goal that sealed victory and all but clinched the 2009-2010 league title for Barça. Xavi once again with the superb through ball and Pedro timed his run perfectly and somehow did not lose the ball as two defenders tried to close him down but he somehow managed to get an effort on goal that got past Casillas.

El Clasico 2010-2011

Pedro was thorn in Madrid's side twice that season. He scored the second goal the night the Manita took place. He also scored the only goal at the Camp Nou in the Champions League Semi-Finals that was the nail in Madrid’s coffin.

2011 Champions League Final at Wembley

This was the opening goal in the 2011 Champions League Final. Superb through ball from Xavi and Pedro showed great calmness by controlling the before before slotting it in for the opening goal.

2012 Copa del Rey Final

Guardiola’s final match as Barça manager. During the season, Pep had somehow ignored Pedro for the likes of Alexis and Tello. Pedro scored a brace in the first half and Pep had this to say about him afterwards. "Pedro is a fantastic player. I was just asking myself why I didn't play him more.” 

2012-2013 PSG Champions League Quarter-Finals

Second half equalizer that ensured that Barça would advance to the next round. Messi came off the bench and found Villa inside the box who then somehow passed it to Pedro with his first touch. Pedro blasted it in and the game would end in a 1-1 draw that helped Barça advance on away goals rule.

2-5 Getafe Pedro hattrick 2013-2014

It was a great comeback by the team that was without Valdés, Messi and Neymar, and found themselves down 2-0 after 15 minutes. It looked hopeless yet these guys battled back through a Pedro hat trick before the halftime whistle and then Cesc scored a brace in the second half for a2-5 win. Hat trick in 8 minutes.His first goal was from outside the box with the keeper halfway inside his box. He managed to get a hand on it but that was not enough. Equalizer, cuts in from the left side and right footed it into the top corner. Third goal was the difference as he got onto a rebound and blasted it over a sprawling defender and past the keeper with a strong blast.

Chilena v Real Sociedad 2014-2015

The goal that some would say clinched last season’s league title for Barca. Off the bench, Pedro came in and scored this amazing Chilena goal to remind us that he still some magic in his goal scoring shoes.

2015 UEFA Super Cup Sevilla

With talks of Pedro wanting to leave and Neymar out with the mumps, it seemed like he would start this past UEFA Super Cup. Instead, he was on the bench just as he was six years ago and once again, Pedro came off the bench and scored the game winning goal in extra time. His final golden moment and goal for the club.

So Far So Good For Barça.

Barça’s first half of the season is nearly over with two league matches left to go, Elche today and Atlético Madrid next weekend, and they have to be happy thus far. After capturing the Supercopa and defeating Real Madrid, Barça are fighting neck and neck with Atlético Madrid for the league crown and are still in contention for the domestic and European cup. However, the second half of the season presents a significant challenge and hopefully Barça will be up for it. 

Tata Martino’s first season as Barça manager has been outstanding so far with the minor hiccups here and there, especially with the lengthy absence of Messi. They already captured the Supercopa and qualified to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. They are also still in contention for the Copa del Rey crown while enjoying being league leaders ahead of Atlético by a better goal differential for the past few weeks.

Barça are still in contention for the treble but if they are not careful, they can find themselves knocked out of the Champions League and Copa del Rey by March. Their opponents in the Champions League are none other than Manchester City. Their opponents in Copa del Rey will consist of Getafe and then the winner of the Levante/Rayo Vallecano tie if they get that far, so they cannot afford any hiccups.

However, challenges await Barça that are reminiscent of the 2006-2007 season. Furthermore, Neymar also has the tough challenge of not joining the ranks of other new Barça signings who have struggled in the second half of their debut season. Barça should hope to learn from their past mistakes or be doomed to repeat history.

The last time Barça was involved in a 3 horse race for the league title was back in 2006-2007. Back then, they battled Real Madrid and Sevilla with Los Blancos capturing the title on the final day of the season. Barça were league leaders halfway through the season through a better goal differential yet finished in second place. Will history repeat itself and Barça succumb towards the end of the finish line and allow Atlético Madrid or Real Madrid to capture the league crown?

Likewise, Barça were eliminated at the first knockout stage of the 2006-2007 Champions League. Back then, they faced an English Premier League team, Liverpool and were eliminated thanks to a careless defensive mistake. Gifting goals has been Barça’s Achilles heel this season and will Manchester City be the first English team to knock them out of this stage since Liverpool did?

Finally, it has been a struggle for players to adapt to Barça upon arrival. History has shown us that some great players struggle to after joining Barça. Notable names such as Mark Hughes, Hagi, Thuram, Baia, Petit, Litmanen, Zambrotta, and Ibrahimovic came with a great resumes and reputations and left the club without much fanfare. Cesc and Ibrahimovic are perfect examples of players who kicked off their careers with Barça with an impressive debut in the first half of the season before disappointing in the second half of the season.

Neymar has impressed many with his 11 goals and 10 assists thus far, but will he be able to duplicate or exceed those numbers in the second half of the season? History does not favor him but he controls his destiny and those pages in the history books are still blank. Tata Martino, Neymar and the club have a difficult second half ahead of them where their pursuit of the treble will be harsher with tougher opponents and less breathing room. Obviously, the backlash will be fierce if Barça stumble along the way. Hopefully everyone will avoid repeating history and rise to the occasion.