Once unbeatable Barcelona moves on after swoon
Print Edition
ONCE unbeatable Barcelona is wondering where it all went wrong.
The team that only a few weeks ago celebrated a streak of 39 games without a loss is now lamenting elimination from Europe’s most important club competition.
The Spanish giant was ousted by rival Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday after its third loss in four games — a 0-2 defeat at the Vicente Calderon Stadium that erased its 2-1 first-leg win at the Nou Camp.
The result ended Barcelona’s chances of repeating the treble of Champions League, Copa del Rey and Spanish league titles — its biggest goal entering the season.
The loss also further dented the confidence of players who looked unstoppable not long ago. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar — the trio of world-class strikers that are capable of scoring at will — have been far from great recently.
“Our objectives are always the highest, we are proud that Barcelona always aims to win everything,” coach Luis Enrique said. “But we must accept this result and try to improve. We have two competitions left now, with a great chance to win them. They are two attractive goals to aim for. For any other coach in world, winning those two would be enough. But we must improve.”
Barcelona is left with the Spanish league and the final of the Copa, which will be played against Sevilla in May.
Winning the league seemed like a certainty for the Catalan club a few rounds ago, but with the team’s recent struggles, not even that is guaranteed.
Barcelona held a nine-point lead over Atletico less than a month ago but the gap has dwindled to only three points after a draw and two straight losses, including one at home to Real Madrid, which is four points back and also in contention.
Until a 2-2 draw at Villarreal in the league three rounds ago, Barcelona was cruising. The club had won 19 of 20 games, and the only winless result was a Copa draw at Valencia, when it played without the regular starters.
Since the Villarreal game, Barcelona’s trio of high-profile forwards managed to score only two goals in four matches — both times with Suarez in the first leg against Atletico, after Fernando Torres was sent off in the first half.
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