'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona have not had the best of times this season, losing matches they had no business dropping points in, while some of their wins have been overshadowed by their struggles even in victory.
The Catalans currently top the league, but this does not mask their poor performances and they have lost three matches from just 11 games in LaLiga and while this is very disappointing, even more disappointing is the fact that two of the losses came in matches against Levante who narrowly avoided relegation last season, and against a Granada that was only recently promoted.
There have also been poor performances elsewhere, with the stalemates with Osasuna and Slavia Prague leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Barcelona fans.
The Blaugrana are one of Europe's biggest sides, with ambitions of triumphing on all fronts and is safe to say that the fans are not used to the current malaise afflicting their dear club.
In this piece, we shall be highlighting three reasons why Barcelona are struggling at the moment.
#3 Injuries have been unkind to them
The current season began in less than ideal circumstances for Barcelona, as Lionel Messi injured his calf during preseason, while Luis Suarez also pulled up with an injury in the first game of the campaign against Athletic Bilbao.
These two men are among the best forwards in the history of the game and any side in the world would suffer from the absence of just one, much less the both of them at the same time.
In addition to the South American forwards, other key first-teamers like Ousmane Dembele, Jordi Alba, Samuel Umtiti, and Junior Firpo have all been sidelined at one point or the other, with Suarez suffering another setback in the defeat to Levante.
Injuries are a cruel reality of football, but for Barcelona to have suffered so many injuries in such little space of time-deprived Valverde of the services of a number of important players and this has played a major role in their struggles to date.
#2 Their defence has been in shambles
Barcelona have not been famed for having resolute defences over the years, but things seem to have slipped to new lows this term.
There is no organization to their defensive play, with the defenders usually at sixes and sevens and there is always an overwhelming feeling of Barcelona conceding with every wave of attack launched by their opponents.
In both legs of their Champions League fixtures with Slavia Prague, the Czechs sliced open Barcelona's backline at will and the Catalans were lucky not to have lost either fixture, while they needed some heroics from Marc-Andre ter Stegen to pick up a point in Dortmund.
In the league, they have conceded a whopping 14 goals from just 11 matches, which is worse than every side in the top five and better than just 11 clubs in the top-flight (all of whom have played one game more).
Gerard Pique is significantly beneath his usual high standards and is not offering the on-field leadership or direction for his teammates, while Clement Lenglet has made some schoolboy errors and Samuel Umtiti has been absent due to injury.
With Barcelona's midfield no longer as immaculate as it used to be, an extra spotlight has been beamed upon the defence, but so far, they have failed to cover themselves in glory.
#1 Antoine Griezmann has not stepped up to the plate
Antoine Griezmann completed his long-awaited and controversial transfer to Barcelona when the Catalans paid the full sum of his release clause valued at €120m.
The French international had starred with Atletico Madrid for five season and established himself as an elite forward and it was expected that he would bring this form with him to the Camp Nou to complement Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in attack.
However, this has failed to happen and months on from his arrival, Barcelona fans are still waiting to see the best of Griezmann.
There have been flashes of brilliance every now and again and the former Real Sociedad man has shown a willingness to track back and help with defending, but the overwhelming consensus is that he has not done enough in front of goal.
So far this term, he has registered just four goals and three assists from 14 matches in all competitions, while there have also been instances when his strike partners have elected not to play him in when free, perhaps as a reflection that he is not yet fully trusted.
Griezmann was brought in to ease the workload on Messi and Suarez, but while he might be an undisputed talent, he is yet to transfer his abilities to Barcelona and this has played no small part in Barcelona's struggles so far.
