The air is gone: FC Barcelona is developing from the supposed top candidate for the championship in LaLiga to a shaky structure. Since the triumph in the Clásico, a whopping 13 points have fallen by the wayside. And now Atlético comes to the top duel.
FC Barcelona is constantly making mistakes
It may sound confusing, but: Would it perhaps have been better if FC Barcelona had not won the Clásico at Real Madrid on October 26th? Or at least not with a massive 4:0? At the time, Barcelonismo still thought they were at the top of European football thanks to their previous 4-1 win against FC Bayern Munich, but Hansi Flick has now noticeably lost steam.
But someone should inflate this Barça balloon again as quickly as possible. While the Catalans in the Champions League, as second in the 36-team league, are on the verge of qualifying directly for the round of 16, in the Primera División there is a risk of losing the first place they have held for several weeks.
Frightening and not really worthy of a team that wants to become champions: Since the triumph at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, the Flick team, which was so brilliant and fun in the first few weeks of the season both in terms of play and results, has lost almost a third of the points. Out of 21 possible points, it only scored eight points, but 13 were given away.
Atlético: Next opponent and level on points with Barça
The results: 3:1 against Espanyol, 0:1 against Real Sociedad, 2:2 against Celta Vigo, 1:2 against UD Las Palmas, 5:1 against RCD Mallorca, 2:2 against Real Betis – and now this 0:1 against CD Leganés. A team that had previously only collected five points away from home in eight league matches and for which, as a promoted team, the primary concern for the time being is nothing other than staying in the league. For the club from just outside Madrid, this guest appearance with the heavy favorites was like a bonus game. This success is now even more valuable.
Quite a few will have thought in the run-up to this 17th matchday that Leganés would be a welcome opponent for the nationally struggling Barça. The next team that stands in the Blaugrana’s way will definitely not be: it will be Atlético Madrid. What many people probably don’t even have on their list: The “Rojiblancos”, like Barça, now have 38 points in their account. Real have 37 points but have played one game less than the top duo.
The mood in the FC Barcelona stadium is bad
The top duel with Antoine Griezmann and Co. will take place next Saturday from 9 p.m. It will be Barça’s last appearance in 2024, so of course they should go into the Christmas break with a good feeling. The 18th matchday will also see action at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Where the mood was once again extremely poor due to the exclusion of the supporter groups. Almost 40,000 visitors were there.
Marcus Sorg, who represented the suspended Hansi Flick against Leganés and also has to do the same against Atlético, makes no secret of the disappointment in the team. The assistant coach: “Of course we miss the support. The team needs the support, especially in games where it’s tight and we’re behind. If she’s not there, we’re definitely not happy.” And especially if that also applies to the points.
“That’s a problem”: Sorg also represents Flick at PK after the 0-1 defeat