"FCBarcelona" by Miguel Ruiz is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Barcelona were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening following a double-leg defeat to French champions PSG. The damage was done in the opening game at the Camp Nou where the Parisians hammered Ronald Koeman’s men 4-1 to the disbelief of fans watching around the world.
Barca were one of the pre-tournament favourites with many leading soccer to be crowned kings of Europe for the sixth time but that wait rumbles on. It has been six long years since FCB last claimed the top prize in European football. Hardly a drought but for fans accustomed to glory, it will feel like an age.
Three-horse race for the title
Koeman and his underachievers now have one final roll of the dice if they are to salvage their season and it comes in the form of the La Liga title. They must dent rivals Real Madrid two-in-a-row while hoping current leaders Atletico Madrid come unstuck down the home straight.
26-time champions of Spain it’s safe to say the Barcelona stars of past seasons have proven their stomach for a title fight but if the current crop is to finish on top they must knuckle down and earn it. After being eliminated from the Champions League the Catalans occupied second in the La Liga table behind leaders Atletico Madrid but ahead of Real Madrid.
The top-tier of Spanish football looks set for a grandstand finish with three teams holding genuine hopes of being crowned champions. After 26 games played there are no more than eight points between pace setters Atletico and third-placed Real Madrid. With the teams in second and third boasting better recent form than the club in pole position, no one is prepared to throw in the towel early. Do Barcelona have what it takes to stage a late smash and grab?
Barca are Spain’s form side
An impressive unbeaten run has kept Barcelona’s chances alive. Four wins and a draw in five games makes them the competition’s form side nine points claimed from their three most recent outings ensuring they continue to breathe down the necks of Atletico.
Barca won their first two games of March without conceding a goal, hammering Sevilla 3-0 then dishing out a 2-0 beating to Osasuna. Interestingly, each of the five goals were scored by different players. That proves the togetherness and work ethic of the dressing room. Will that be enough to see them cross the line before their closest rivals?
The team four-in-a-row without conceding and that watertight defence will be key to any success enjoyed in the coming weeks. Despite their solid run Barca fans were shocked to see their club drop two points at home against Cadiz. They were denied the win on that occasion by a late penalty scored by Fernandez Iglesias in the final minute. That spot-kick successfully matched an opening goal struck by Lionel Messi in the first half.
"FCBarcelona, Messi" by La Liga is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Upcoming fixtures will decide their fate
Barcelona can take pride from their recent efforts in La Liga but there is still plenty of football to be played. If they lose that unbeaten run in the games between now and the season finale it will all be for nothing. Yes, Barcelona are serious title contenders and favourites with many pundits, but they are just as likely to finish third as first.
How they perform over the next few weeks is crucial, but supporters can take confidence from the schedule. Barcelona continue March with a home game against bottom club Huesca before visiting top-four chasing Real Sociedad. It’s worth remembering they beat Sociedad earlier in the league thanks to goals from Jordi Alba and Frenkie De Jong wrapping it up before the interval.
In April, the games come thick and fast against relegation-threatened duo Real Valladolid and Getafe. There’s also an out of form Villarreal and midtable sides Granada and Bilbao. The most important fixture is scheduled for Sunday 11 April and it’s a make or break game against Real Madrid away from home. Win that and they’ll have every chance of clinching the title, lose to their old rivals and it could prove to be a disastrous campaign.
All About FC Barcelona
AllAboutFCBarcelona.com is a Blog dedicated to the Most prestigous Club in the world, FC Barcelona by an ardent fan. Here I discuss about the Latest happening surrounding our Club and present my Views about the same.
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