Barcelona started the season in the best form they have shown in years, culminating in the clashes between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. However, things couldn't have gone any worse in La Liga from that high point.
Their latest defeat against Leganes made it just one win in six games domestically, a run that saw them drop 13 points and relinquish their lead in the table. Those numbers aren't even the most worrying.
As indicated by SportBarcelona has 38 points from its opening 18 games – exactly the same as under Xavi Hernandez last year, in a season widely described as disastrous at the end of it. They are 7 points behind where they were when they won the league with Xavi, but at least they scored 16 more goals and conceded one less than last season.
The same outlet will continue to note that the last time that Barcelona He went into such poor form, Ronald Koeman found himself out of a job. Marco also highlight that in the last five days in La Liga, no team has taken fewer points than the two that Barcelona has – Valencia and Alaves have three, with Ruben Baraja's job security in question, and Chacho Coudet has recently settled in Mendizorrotza.
Barcelona are close to completing a deal for 16-year-old FC Porto winger Cardoso Varela. The player and his agent landed in Barcelona this morning and had lunch with Deco. Now they visit the Ciutat Esportiva. @monfortcarlos pic.twitter.com/G4tniu1uhz
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) December 16, 2024
Another problem facing Flick is his inability to react to adversity. Since the start of the season against Rayo Vallecano and Valencia in August, MD note Barcelona could not take a single point from the games in which they went behind: AS Monaco, Osasuna, Real Sociedad, Las Palmas and Leganes.
Barcelona face Atletico Madrid on Saturday night, and will also be without chief creator Lamine Yamal through injury, in a match that could be decisive in the title race. However, if the players and Flick don't find a way to reverse their recent struggles, the run will be over for the Blaugrana sooner rather than later.
