FC Barcelona have all but surrendered their excellent start to the La Liga campaign with three bad performances back-to-back. Hansi Flick’s team looks far off from the dominant unit that conquered Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the space of a week.
After a flying start, this has been a timely reminder that Barcelona need to remain grounded. Players don’t seem to be playing with the same intensity level that they started the season with and fatigue already seems to have creeped in.
Not many players came out from the Las Palmas game smelling like a rose and with the exception of Raphinha and maybe Pau Cubarsi, no other player could have claimed to have given their all to try and turn the situation around.
With all this in mind, here are three talking points for FC Barcelona as they lose ground in their La Liga title race with a 1-2 loss to Las Palmas at home.
VALENCIA, SPAIN - JANUARY 30: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona flags are seen during the La Liga Santander match between Valencia CF and Elche CF at Estadio Mestalla on January 30, 2021 in Valencia, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors.
Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images
1. Advantage Real Madrid
If Real Madrid win their game in hand, they are set to leapfrog Barcelona to the top of the table. Despite having contrasting starts to the season, the last three games have leveled the playing field, and if Barcelona don’t step up now, when will they?
All Los Blancos usually need is a whiff of room back into the mix to run away with it and Barcelona have ceded their position. Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be keen to make the most of it and try and drive the Catalan club further into the ground.
With games coming thick and fast, Hansi Flick doesn’t have much time left to change the narrative. The German coach needs to bring a response out of his players and it has to start with the trip to Mallorca midweek.
Real Madrid seem to be getting better with every passing week and Barcelona is the opposite. Let’s hope the club realizes this and starts showcasing the kind of football they were playing back in October.
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 10: Players of FC Barcelona pose for a team photograph prior to the LaLiga match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at Reale Arena on November 10, 2024 in San Sebastian, Spain.
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
2. A November to forget
If October was a month for the ages in Barcelona, November was the total opposite. October and November were polar opposites of one another and fans will be hoping that December is more the former than the latter.
Barcelona looked unbeaten in October. They were so good in terms of performance and it was arguably the peak of Hansi Flick’s team in their short stint so far. However, things haven’t panned out the same way.
Flick has not been helped by injury issues to key players like Lamine Yamal without whom Barcelona seem to have no clue how to win. It is not good to have all your dependence pinned on a 17-year-old performing week in and week out.
Cules will be hoping that December is a month to remember as things go forward. Let’s wait and see how things play out.
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 26: Jules Koundé of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the LaLiga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
3. What is happening to Jules Kounde?
Jules Kounde hit new heights as a right-back in the game against Red Star Belgrade providing three assists on the night. Ever since that night though, it has been all downhill for the talented Frenchman who seems to be struggling for form.
It is a drastic drop-off from the incredible level he was showing and one wonders what exactly has changed. The most obvious answer to this would be his lack of influence on the right wing in the absence of Lamine Yamal.
With the Spanish teenager now returning, one would hope that so would Kounde’s form. He needs to start playing better and combining better and cut out the lapses in defense that we have seen recently. It is imperative for the team that he plays well.
Having been taken off at around the hour mark last night, one would assume that Kounde will be keen to showcase his quality against Mallorca midweek. Let’s wait and see how things play out for the Frenchman going forward.
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BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 23: Dani Olmo of FC Barcelona reacts as he warms up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munchen at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 23, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
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