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Winning the Champions League is a dream for every elite club in Europe. It is, therefore, no surprise that Barcelona wants to win it too. The Catalans dominated La Liga in three of the last four seasons but have been unlucky in their European venture in the same period.
The last time the Blaugrana paraded the continental crown along the streets of Catalonia was in 2015, when the attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Junior delivered the iconic trophy under the management of Luis Enrique.
Since then, they have suffered a series of embarrassing eliminations from the competition. Everyone remembers how they threw away a three-goal advantage and were humiliated by Roma in Italy during the 2017-2018 campaign. They suffered another capitulation at Anfield last season - adding one more year to their wait for Champions League triumph.
The reigning Spanish champions are still hoping to return to the summit of European football and have already made it to the Round Of 16 stage of the UCL this season. While fans hold on to the belief that this could be the year they get to celebrate another UCL trophy win, there are certain factors that suggest they will fail once again.
We take a look at five reasons why Barcelona will fail to win the Champions League this season:
Also Read: Barcelona need to step up right away to salvage the season
#5 Lionel Messi's quiet goal-scoring run
Let's face the truth. This is one of the worst outings Lionel Messi has endured in recent years. Truly, no one can deny his abilities in front of goal as he boasts of over 600 goals in his career and is, without doubt, one of the greatest finishers the world has seen.
In the same vein, no one can deny the fact that the Argentine is below his normal goalscoring standards this season. The 32-year-old has bagged only 14 goals in La Liga and two in the Champions League so far this term. At this stage last season, he already had 25 efforts in the Spanish top-flight and six in Europe. He is also currently on his longest goal drought in the domestic league since 2014, having failed to find the back of the net in his last four games.
Considering how much Barcelona depend on Messi's brilliance, it is difficult to imagine them claiming any trophy if he isn't scoring consistently. Unless the attacker finds his scoring boots soon, the Catalans' chances of making history in Europe remain slim.
#4 Leaky defence
If the popular saying "defence is what wins you titles" is anything to go by, it won't be an exaggeration to say that Barcelona are still far from achieving their Champions League dream this season.
A look into the statistics sheds light on this claim. The Catalan giants have conceded 29 goals in 24 games in La Liga so far, with an average of 1.2 goal per game which is the worst record by any top-five team in the Spanish top-flight. They also managed just two clean sheets from six games in the Champions League group stage this term.
With the elite European competition full of rampant attacking teams this season, the current Barcelona backline does not look strong enough to face what lies ahead of them. If you reflect on the humiliation the reigning Spanish champions have suffered in Europe within the last four years, you would realise that it is logical to have some doubts over their challenge this season.
#3 Injury crisis
It is an open secret that an injury crisis continues to punish Catalonia's biggest club. Barcelona are once again unlucky with injuries this season and it is having a serious effect on the progress of the team.
It was Lionel Messi who first had fitness issues at the start of the season before Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele joined him on the doctor's table. While Suarez and Dembele are yet to fully recover from their fresh injuries, the Argentine has been an active figure on the pitch. However, reports recently suggested that the 32-year-old may be playing with a groin injury. The likes of Jordi Alba and Nelson Semedo have also spent some time on the sidelines during this campaign.
Messi is already missing his chemistry with the injured Suarez and it has led to a dip in his return in front of goal. Barcelona currently lack depth in attack and could lose even more players, with the season set to get more intense than ever.
#2 Average form
The manner in which Barcelona started the season clearly demonstrates that they have become weaker. The Catalans started the season in unwanted fashion as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Athletic Bilbao and they've been on a downward slope ever since.
Quique Setien's men were recently sent packing from the Copa del Rey by the same side that denied them a good start to the season - with the same scoreline. They are now playing catch-up with Real Madrid in the La Liga title race after slipping from the top spot following their recent 2-0 defeat at Valencia.
Their Champions League group stage outing was also not impressive. They drew two of their six fixtures and won with a one-goal margin in three of their four victories, struggling against the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Slavia Prague. The test against Napoli won't be a ride in the park and even if they manage to scrape through, bigger ones lie ahead.
#1 Stronger rivals
A look at Barcelona's form this season only reveals disappointment. It gets even worse if you make comparisons with their top foes in the Champions League this season as it does not look like they will stand a chance against their competitors when it comes to their level of performance and momentum.
Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates at Juventus are making waves with scintillating performances in Serie A. Bayern Munich have also been an exceptional side and they proved their worth in the Champions League when they fired 10 goals past Tottenham Hotspur across two legs in the group stage.
Liverpool are yet to lose any game in the Premier League this season while the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and RB Leipzig are also firing on all cylinders. It's a game in which the fittest survives and Barcelona will really need a miracle to stand a chance of winning the coveted European title this season.
