Barcelona’s honeymoon phase ends after another shocking defeat

In Spain, the recent performance of FC Barcelona under Hansi Flick has raised concerns among fans and critics alike. Following a strong start to the season, where the team had seven consecutive victories and a dominant 4-0 win over Real Madrid, the situation has deteriorated in recent matches. Flick's side suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat at home against Las Palmas on November 30, 2024, extending their winless streak in league matches to three. This downward trend began with a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo and was compounded by a 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad, intensifying scrutiny on Flick's tactical decisions and management style. The media and pundits have pointed to multiple factors contributing to this decline, including opponents effectively countering Barcelona's strategies, especially their offside traps, fatigue from excessive player rotation, and the mental weaknesses of a young squad. Key player Lamine Yamal’s recent ankle injury has further complicated efforts for a resurgence. The criticism has been particularly pointed, with noted figures in the Spanish press expressing dissatisfaction with Flick's post-match analyses, where he primarily discussed the team's missed goal opportunities without addressing systemic issues. Looking ahead, Barcelona faces a challenging schedule, needing to regain form before the winter break, with three consecutive away games approaching against Mallorca, Real Betis, and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. The club will end the year with home fixtures against Leganes and league rivals Atletico Madrid, with a view to regroup during the winter break when they will not play for 18 days due to the Supercopa de Espana in Saudi Arabia in January. Fans are eager to see whether Flick can recalibrate his strategies effectively to return to winning ways.