Are Barcelona in crisis after stuttering form in LaLiga?

Barcelona’s Stuttering Form: Crisis or Overreaction?

Barcelona are currently living through a situation that most football clubs in Europe would envy. They sit at the top of LaLiga, are second in the Champions League, and are being powered by the brilliance of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. This young prodigy is already being touted as a future Ballon d’Or winner, outshining the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the same stage of their careers. They’ve also secured a handsome win in El Clásico and are guaranteed a €40 million windfall for qualifying directly for the knockout phase of the revamped Champions League.

On top of that, Hansi Flick’s side has been playing some of the most enjoyable and uplifting football in the world over the past few months. Yet, despite all these positives, the word “crisis” is being thrown around. For many, this might seem like an exaggeration. After all, how can a team leading LaLiga and thriving in Europe be in crisis?

Let’s break it down. Merriam-Webster defines a crisis as “an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending, especially: one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome.” With that in mind, Barcelona’s current situation starts to make more sense as a potential crisis.

Recent Struggles and Missed Opportunities

Barcelona’s recent form has been anything but stable. Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Leganés was a low point. It was embarrassing, avoidable, and grim. This loss came on the heels of another home defeat to Las Palmas, marking their second consecutive home loss and their fourth defeat of the LaLiga season. For context, Real Madrid only lost once during their title-winning campaign last season.

Adding to the frustration, Barcelona failed to capitalize on Madrid dropping two points in a 3-3 draw at Rayo Vallecano. They also missed the chance to create a three-point cushion over Atlético Madrid, who are set to visit Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium this Saturday (stream LIVE at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in the U.S.).

Another troubling stat: every time Barcelona have fallen behind on the scoreboard since late August, they’ve gone on to lose. There’s been no counter-punch, no energy, and no character to turn things around. This lack of resilience is alarming, especially for a team with title aspirations.

From Dominance to Decline

In early November, Barcelona looked like champions-elect after beating Espanyol to open up a nine-point lead over Madrid and a 10-point gap over Atlético. Fast forward to now, and they’ve taken just five points from their last 18 available. In two of those matches, against Celta and Betis, they squandered leads by conceding late goals in the 84th, 86th, and 94th minutes, turning potential wins into draws.

Here’s a quick summary of the issues plaguing Barcelona:

• Opponents have figured out how to exploit their high-risk defensive line.
• Key players look fatigued and out of form.
• Hansi Flick has failed to rotate the squad effectively.
• Robert Lewandowski has been inconsistent, often looking like a passenger when not supplied with clear goal-scoring opportunities.

Lewandowski’s struggles were on full display against Leganés, where his poor finishing raised questions about whether he should even be starting matches right now.

Looking Ahead: A Volcanic Clash with Atlético

All eyes are now on Saturday’s showdown with Atlético Madrid. This match could be pivotal in the LaLiga title race. Flick will still be absent from the touchline due to suspension, and Yamal’s injury status remains uncertain. Barcelona have yet to win a single LaLiga match this season without Yamal in the starting XI, which doesn’t bode well for their chances.

For Atlético, this is an opportunity to make history. Despite all of Diego Simeone’s achievements over the past 13 years, his team hasn’t won an away league match against Barcelona in nearly 19 years. However, given Barcelona’s current form, that record could very well change this weekend. If Atlético win, they could head into the Christmas break as LaLiga leaders, setting the stage for a tumultuous 2025.

So, is Barcelona in crisis? The answer depends on your perspective. From a results standpoint, they’re still in a strong position. But the cracks in their facade are becoming harder to ignore. Saturday’s match against Atlético could either calm the storm or send Barcelona deeper into turmoil. Either way, it’s a must-watch clash that could define the rest of the season.