Barcelona have lost three straight games following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Valencia.
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Their collapse has seen second-placed Atletico Madrid move equal on points with Barca despite their rivals being nine points behind just two weeks ago. The Argentine now has 20 career goals against Los Che, including a hat trick last time out in the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Their 39-game unbeaten streak ended with a home loss to Real Madrid earlier this month. “If we can win, our confidence will increase”.
“These are moments of great tension, there are scuffles in the game and I think we should leave it on the pitch”. Real Madrid also is playing away in three of its last five matches.
Shell-shocked Barca have 76 points along with Atletico, who knocked the holders out of the Champions League in midweek, and remain top only due to a superior head-to-head record.
Gibson, speaking on the La Liga Weekly Podcast, says he can see Atletico and Real winning all of their remaining fixtures.
Having looked as though they were on track to win a second consecutive treble, Barca may now struggle to win even one major trophy this season if they can not turn their form around. Valencia doubled their tally on the stroke of half time through Santi Mina.
After a spell of five games without a goal, Lionel Messi eventually got his milestone goal just after the hour mark, however, it was not enough to save a wobbling Barca as Valencia held firm. He completed a cross by Jordi Alba to keep his team’s hopes alive, but it was not able to capitalize on its chances of equalizing.
FC Barcelona’s Spanish coach Luis Enrique during the team’s training session at Joan Gamper Sports city in Sant Joan Despi, Catalonia, northeastern Spain, 19 April 2016. “It’s part of football”.
The Brazilian blocked Messi’s volley from close range before somehow springing to punch away Neymar’s lob which seemed destined to evade him.
Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves produced a spectacular save to deny Rakitic late on and Gerard Pique agonisingly missed the target at the near post in stoppage time.
“It is evident that we are lacking luck, it won’t surprise anyone that has watched the game”, added Enrique.
In the Champions League defeat at Atletico, the three players failed to gel, playing just 12 passes to each other with Messi completing one to Neymar and none to Suarez.
They travel to Deportivo on Wednesday, while Atletico go to Athletic Bilbao and Real host Villarreal sitting a point behind. Today there’s not a single Barça supporters who is not proud of the team. If they beat Deportivo I think they go on and win the league.
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Sunday’s loss kept Granada with 30 points from 33 games, only one point clear of the relegation zone.
