It’s easy to spot the highlight of Barcelona’s season — wrapping up their La Liga title defence with victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico.But there was disappointment in the Champions League, where Atletico Madrid knocked them out in the quarter-finals — just like they did in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.There were plenty of ups and downs along the way, but even if European success has to wait at least another year, the Catalan side’s 2025-26 campaign will go down as another show of strength in Spain.Here, The Athletic’s Barcelona correspondent Laia Cervelló Herrero looks back.Goal of the seasonLamine Yamal’s second goal against Villarreal at the Camp Nou on February 28. That was the day the 18-year-old scored his first senior hat-trick for Barcelona.His second goal was a stroke of genius, created all by himself. After receiving the ball on the wing, he skilfully shook off two defenders, cut inside and fired a stunning shot into the top corner.Game of the seasonIt might seem a strange choice, but for me it has to be the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Atletico Madrid.Barca were knocked out despite a 3-0 win, because they’d lost 4-0 in the first leg at Atletico. But they played their most complete match of the season, their most dominant display against a top-tier rival, and the Camp Nou gave them a standing ovation for their efforts.Surprise of the seasonGerard Martin.I don’t think many people expected him to become a first-choice centre-back this season. Firstly, because he’s a left-back. Secondly, because it would be fair to say that he is not, unlike Yamal, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi or Marc Bernal, blessed with bags of natural talent.But through hard work and a willingness to learn, to take on board criticisms and improve, the 24-year-old has carved out a place for himself in Hansi Flick’s plans, three years after arriving for €100,000 (£86k; $116k) from third-tier Cornella.Mistake of the seasonThis wasn’t a mistake as such, but the most regrettable part of Barca’s season was the internal tensions between the fitness department and the medical staff.Injuries have been the team’s main problem, particularly hamstring injuries — there were seven across the squad. Some injuries are unavoidable, but it is clear that differences between the departments responsible for treating them at times did not help matters, and disagreements between some fitness staff members and some players were also a hindrance.Quote of the season“Egos kill success.”Flick said this at his press conference following the 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on August 31. The atmosphere in the dressing room was tense after a patchy start to Barca’s title defence, and it was intended to serve as a wake-up call to ensure such a young squad didn’t lose its way.It succeeded. The squad listened and took it on board, and it was a remark that was well remembered at the end of the season, given what was happening to Real Madrid.Flick’s close relationship with his players has been a strong point for Barca this term (David Ramos/Getty Images)Funniest moment of the seasonIt’s hard to pick a story that doesn’t feature Wojciech Szczesny.When Barcelona won the league against Real Madrid, the team held a celebration at a nightclub. It was about 20 minutes away on foot from Camp Nou, and the Pole decided to walk there on his own, wearing a cowboy hat.Some fans stopped him and he started singing the ‘Szczesny fumador’ (Szczesny smoker) chant with them while dancing and posing for the fans recording him. One of a kind.Honourable mention goes to Joan Laporta, who was greeted by a mariachi band outside his home after being re-elected as Barcelona president.Opposition player of the seasonAntoine Griezmann. Atletico Madrid knocked Barca out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals and the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals, and the Frenchman was the player who hurt them most in those games.You could also mention Julian Alvarez, who scored key goals against Barca in those games with the added intrigue of him being their number one transfer target. The two clubs are now in talks over a transfer, with Barca preparing a €100million offer.The issue that will dominate this summer is…Transfer activity.It has been said all season that Barcelona need to sign a centre-forward, as both Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski have been inconsistent.Flick wanted to adopt a 50-50 approach so that both would get the same amount of playing time, but this seemed to end up undermining the confidence of both players. With Lewandowski’s departure upon the expiry of his contract, a spot has opened up and the team needs to strengthen that position.The club’s dream signing is Alvarez — and Anthony Gordon’s arrival from Newcastle will also help upgrade the frontline, with Barca now not expected to take up their option for Marcus Rashford.But there will still be work to do for the club’s sporting direction department, with sales now to be expected and potential further incomings.Alvarez celebrates scoring for Atletico against Barca in the Copa del Rey (Oscar del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images)This time next year we’ll all be saying…“Barcelona are set to play in the Champions League final.”This is the club’s main objective and the squad’s obsession. It has been 11 years since Barca last played in a European final, and they are getting close.In last season’s run to the semi-finals they lacked a top-class goalkeeper, a problem they solved by signing Joan Garcia last summer. This season they’ve lost key players at crucial moments and the team was physically exhausted by the time of the Atletico tie, in which Barca had a player sent off in both legs.But if they sign a good centre-forward, next season could be their time…