Hansi Flick had a fairy-tale start to his tenure as Barcelona’s head coach, but he is now enduring a nightmare end of the year. After winning 11 of the first 12 matches, Barcelona has managed just five points out of a possible 21 in the subsequent games. The team enters the January break in third place, three points behind league leaders Atlético Madrid. Their latest setback—a 2-1 loss at home to Atlético—marks their second consecutive league defeat, following a shock 1-0 loss to 15th-placed Leganés. Adding to their woes, Barcelona has suffered three consecutive home defeats in 2024, losing to Las Palmas (1-2), Leganés, and Atlético. This is a record not seen in 60 years. While playing at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium due to Camp Nou renovations might provide some excuse, it offers little solace to the fans.Barca snatch an African gemDespite remaining in contention for the title, alarm bells are ringing. Flick’s Barcelona has already accumulated five league losses—matching Xavi Hernández’s total from the entire previous season. This translates to a loss rate of 25%, worse than the tenures of Xavi (15%), Quique Setién (16%), or Ronald Koeman (21%). Barcelona’s dip in form coincides with two significant setbacks: Injury to Lamine Yamal: The young sensation’s absence has left a creative void in the squad. Robert Lewandowski’s scoring drought: While the Polish striker ended the year as La Liga’s top scorer with 16 goals, 14 of them came in the first 11 matches. He has only scored twice in his last seven appearances.”I’ve felt a lack of composure in the box recently, and maybe even some loss of confidence” Lewandowski admitted after the Atlético defeat. Despite this, he remains on track to surpass last season’s tally of 19 league goals. Barcelona’s injury woes have also plagued the defense, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. What a comeback! Atletico return from the edge of abyss to stun Barca in their home!Ronald Araújo has returned to the bench, and Andreas Christensen is set to rejoin the squad in 2025. The availability of these experienced defenders should bolster the team’s shaky confidence. Barcelona’s first match after the winter break is a Copa del Rey clash on January 4 against Barbastro, a fourth-tier team that recently upset Espanyol. This fixture could serve as a warm-up for their trip to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup. Their first La Liga match of 2025 is against Getafe on January 18 in Madrid’s outskirts. Despite the current crisis, Spanish media report that club president Joan Laporta continues to back Flick. The German coach has time to regroup and put Barcelona back on an upward trajectory, with the trust of the board as a crucial pillar of support.##NAJAVA_MECA_8586415##
