After last season’s double-winning campaign that saw Barcelona clinch the Champions League and the La Liga title, the Catalans were expected to carry on their sizzling form into the current campaign.
Long-term target Cesc Fabregas and Chilean sensation Alexis Sanchez were added in the summer to a squad that was already the best in the world.
However, after 17 league matches, the champions are 5 points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid despite a 3-1 victory in the Classico.
Manager Pep Guardiola has been tinkering with his squad so far this season trying out a variety of tactics to accommodate his summer signings. In particular, midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been a permanent figure in the team with Guardiola resorting to an ultra-attacking 3-4-3 system to accommodate the former Arsenal captain.
This has however affected the team adversely. The balance, solidity, and sheer invincibility that characterized last season’s all-conquering team has given way to a vulnerable attacking outfit that no longer has the fear factor it once had.
Injuries have not helped either with Spanish striker David Villa facing a lenghty spell on the sidelines. However it is very evident that Barcelona have been far too complacent this season, especially in games against weaker opposition. Opposition teams have resorted to sitting back, hitting the Catalans on the break thereby exploiting their fragile 3-man defence.
A loss to Getafe and draws against Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Valencia and Sevilla means that Barcelona have won just three away games in the current campaign.
One major factor in Barcelona’s lacklustre league campaign is the manager’s preference to rotate his squad. His summer signings have slotted in quite well with Fabregas scoring 9 league goals in addition to forming a lethal patnership with Lionel Messi. However, even Messi seems to be struggling on the road. The Argentine playmaker has scored just one away goal this season.
Moreover, Barcelona’s biggest obstacle is its arch-rival Real Madrid.
In previous seasons, Los Blancos were just a bunch of talented individuals with no real cohesion. However under Jose Mourinho, the team has become a more compact unit.
Solid at the back, ruthless in attack and lethal on the counter, Madrid have been in imperious form this season. Although they lost the Classico, their title challenge is back on track after back to back wins over Sevilla and Granada; a sign of their mental strength this season.
Madrid have also become more of a collective outfit. Although Portuguese phenomenon Cristiano Ronaldo is still Madrid’s main source of goals and inspiration, the likes of Angel Dimaria, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Xabi Alonso have grown in stature from last season and now contribute to the team like never before.
Barcelona will drop more points, especially in away games. Real Madrid have no such problems however and even if they lose the Classico, they would still have enough to clinch the title.
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