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Barcelona have been by far the most successful team domestically in Spain over the last decade. They have won seven league titles in this period, while they also added four consecutive Copa del Reys between 2015 and 2018.
Barcelona are currently two-time defending champions in the LaLiga, and would look to make it a three-peat at the end of the season.
However, for all of their star power, the Blaugrana will likely find it difficult to retain their league title. They could well end the season without a domestic crown.
In this piece, we look at three reasons why Barcelona might fail to defend their LaLiga title this season.
#3 Their prioritizing of the Champions League
As already indicated, Barcelona’s recent record in LaLiga has been spectacular. But despite their near-total domination in the league, there has been a growing feeling of dissatisfaction among many fans.
The reason for that is not hard to figure out. The Blaugrana have failed to match their LaLiga supremacy in the continent, and that is seen as a travesty by their lofty standards - especially considering the success enjoyed by their eternal rivals Real Madrid in recent years.
To give an idea of the near-obsession with the Champions League, Ernesto Valverde has won the LaLiga in each of his two seasons at the helm of affairs but his tenure is largely classified as a failure by the fans simply because he did not bring European glory back to Camp Nou.
It is no secret that Barcelona are eager to get their hands on the ‘Big Ears’; Lionel Messi stated as much in his first press conference as captain last season. And although he didn't make such lofty claims this term, the desire for the crown burns stronger than ever.
Ostensibly Barcelona would like to win on all fronts, but their quest for the Champions League is likely to take precedence at Camp Nou - especially in light of their embarrassing exits in recent years.
Almost all members of the current Blaugrana squad are multiple-time winners of LaLiga. But just a handful of them have won the Champions League more than once, which would further fuel their desire for the trophy.
By contrast, Real Madrid have a plethora of players who have won the Champions League multiple times but have precious few league medals to go with that. In light of this, their head coach Zinedine Zidane has stated that the capital club’s ambition this season is to win the league.
Given the difference in priorities for both sides, Barcelona could well falter in the race for the LaLiga title this season.
Also check out: La Liga Table La Liga matches Champions League Schedule
#2 The overdependence on Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is by far the greatest player in the history of Barcelona. It is undeniable that the 32-year-old has played a major role in the club’s transformation into a super-club in the last 15 years.
With 606 goals and counting, Messi is miles ahead as the club’s record goalscorer. He also leads the way in terms of assists provided (234) and trophies won (34).
Given the Argentine's extraterrestrial talent and ability, it stands to reason that Barcelona depend on him to bail them out of tight spots. And Messi’s unique game-changing ability means that he steps up to the plate more often than not.
However, Messidependencia has reached alarming proportions in recent years, and the club have proven to be woefully inadequate in his absence.
Last season, the Rosario native scored 36 and assisted 13 goals for a total direct goal involvement of 49. When you consider that Barcelona scored 90 goals in the league last season, you realize that their captain was directly involved in 54% of the goals the Catalans scored.
Add in the fact that the Argentine international also recorded a lot of pre-assists and initiated moves that led to goals, and his extreme importance becomes much clearer.
Furthermore, in the Champions League, Messi failed to score a quarterfinal goal between 2013 and 2018. It came as no surprise that the club qualified past this stage just once in this time-frame.
A recurring calf injury delayed Messi’s start to the campaign and without him, Barcelona’s season threatened to descend into chaos. But his return has helped calm the storm at Camp Nou.
Over the course of his career Messi has shown a penchant for not getting injured, and having speedy recoveries on the few occasions when he does get on the treatment table. But for all of his superhuman abilities, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is very much human like the rest of us. And given his advancing age, his physical form is no longer in peak condition.
If Messi is to suffer any major injury scare this season, it is highly likely that Barcelona would struggle in his absence. And that could in turn have a big impact on their ability to go all the way in LaLiga.
#1 The level of competition has increased
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.
