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Barcelona's desperation to return to the summit of European football has become evident to all. The Catalans last claimed the Champions League trophy in 2015. Since then, they've failed to taste success in the continental tournament despite putting in a lot of effort.
A golden chance was spurned during the 2017/2018 season when the Blaugrana threw away a three-goal advantage and bowed out to Roma. Coupling that with the humiliation they suffered at the hands of Liverpool last season, Barca's struggles in Europe raise concern.
It was another massive transfer window at the Nou Camp this summer. The club continued with its prolific spending in the market, as the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, Hiroki Abe, Neto and Junior Firpo all made their way to Catalonia.
Momentum is building up as the Blaugrana aim to go all-out for the Champions League crown once again. However, despite the optimism, it doesn't look like the Catalans are ready to make a breakthrough in Europe this season. Here are four reasons why:
#4 Ernesto Valverde
Why on earth is Valverde still in charge at Camp Nou? That is the question many Barca fans are asking themselves, and it has become evident that the tactician has the backing of the board.
It's been two years of European misery for Barca under the management of the ex-Athletic Bilbao manager. Valverde was hapless as his side got battered by Roma two years ago. The same repeated itself last season, with Liverpool denying the Blaugrana an entry into the final.
The Spaniard's pragmatic system is costing Barca. His reign has also earned the Catalans the negative reputation of a 'bottling' team. Valverde has never succeeded in the Champions League. It is clear that he lacks the appropriate system and experience to make a statement in Europe. Hence, it is very difficult to imagine Barca winning the Champions League under his guidance.
#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.
#2 Leaky defense in Europe
Barcelona's struggles in the Champions League for the past few years has a lot to do with the number of goals they've been conceding. Since claiming the tournament in 2015, the Blaugrana have been coming up short in terms of their efforts at the back - especially in the decisive games.
During the 2015/16 campaign, the Catalans were thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint Germain. Although they later managed to edge past the French giants courtesy of an unbelievable comeback, they couldn't repeat the feat against Juventus, who sent them packing from the tournament with a 3-0 battering.
They were also embarrassed by Roma, who overturned a 4-1 defeat to knock the Blaugrana out with a 3-0 victory in Italy - while the 4-0 humiliation suffered at Liverpool last season is still fresh in memory. Barca simply can't win the Champions League if they continue to concede at such a rate.
#1 The rise of Premier League clubs in Europe
One of the reasons why the Champions League stands out among club tournaments is the level of competition that it guarantees every year. In line with that, Barcelona could be denied European glory once again as a result of the increasing intensity put forth by rival clubs - especially those from the English Premier League.
Spanish outfits dominated the UCL between 2014 and 2018. Last season, EPL clubs took over. For the first time in history, four sides from the same domestic division made it into the finals of both European tournaments - Liverpool and Tottenham went head-to-head in the Champions League, while Chelsea and Arsenal battled it out in the Europa.
EPL sides aren't slowing down. They are growing in strength every day. As a matter of fact, the rise of English clubs sends a threatening message to their counterparts in Europe - Barcelona included. The likes of Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint Germain are also going all-out for the continental crown this season after spending big in the summer, and Barca's European future looks bleak.
