4 reasons why Barcelona will not win the Champions League this season

#3 'Messidependencia' persists

This problem has been in existence for quite some time. It is probably the reason why the club tried to reunite with their prodigal son, Neymar Junior, during the summer transfer window. The presence of Lionel Messi is, without doubt, a tremendous blessing to any side. Barca have benefited from the genius of the Argentine since he came to the spotlight.

However, the problem lies in the fact that the team relies too much on his brilliance. It's been just three game weeks so far this season and we've already witnessed how difficult life is for the Blaugrana in the absence of Messi. With the playmaker out injured, Ernesto Valverde's men have recorded just one victory from three matches so far, picking up a mere four points and sitting at the eighth position on the LaLiga table.

The Champions League is much tougher than LaLiga. It is clear that Barca will tremble without their captain in their side. If Messi gets injured during the latter phase of the tournament or has an off-day in a decisive encounter, Los Blaugrana can forget about claiming the continental crown.

About the author

Jidonu is a European and international football news writer at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and has around 7 years of previous experience working with the likes of Tribuna and SportRaba, Jidonu has a good eye for detail and has the ability to created cohesive articles, and reporting exploits have also led him to exclusively cover the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the past.

Jidonu’s tryst with football started after watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, being mesmerized by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Barcelona philosophy and approach towards the game under Pep Guardiola further fueled the burgeoning love for the sport, and he has been a Culer ever since.

Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi is his favorite player and is the one true GOAT for him over Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final, where Messi's brace led to La Albiceleste lifting the cup left a lasting impact on him. His love for Messi also sees him follow Major League Soccer apart from Europe’s top five leagues.

In his free time, Jidonu raps and produces music, and also enjoys reading and swimming.

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Edited by Sai Krishna