LaLiga 2019-20: 3 reasons why Barcelona will not retain their title

#1 The level of competition has increased

Granada have been one of the surprise teams this season

A cursory look at the LaLiga table would reveal that just three points separate the top six in the league. This shows that the Spanish top-flight Is getting tougher, with an increasing number of teams staking claims for the top places.

Barcelona almost finished the 2018-19 season unbeaten but for a shock defeat to Levante on the penultimate matchday. And their dominance over the years meant that they rarely lost more than two matches across a full season.

That figure has already been reached in just nine matches this term, with Athletic Bilbao and Granada defeating the Catalans during their patchy run.

The Blaugrana and Real Madrid used to be the only dominant sides in LaLiga. A new force in the form of Atletico Madrid emerged in 2013, but despite that, Barcelona have largely flexed their muscle in the league.

But this season has seen Valverde’s men fail to beat two newly promoted teams in Granada and Osasuna. A few years ago, both sides would have been blown away.

In 2012 Real Madrid became the first side to amass 100 points in LaLiga history, and Barcelona followed suit just a year later. They would each be lucky to hit the 85-point mark this season.

It is undeniable that the quality of teams in LaLiga has improved drastically. And as such, Barcelona would find it difficult to stroll their way to the title, the way they have in recent years.