Barcelona lack sparkle ahead of Lyon clash

DESPITE an iron grip on domestic trophies, Barcelona have been haunted by their recent failures in the Champions League and there are concerning signs for the Catalans as they prepare for tonight’s last-16 first leg away to Lyon.

Ernesto Valverde’s side fly to France after an uninspiring 1-0 win at home to struggling Real Valladolid on Saturday which consolidated their lead at the top of La Liga, but left plenty of doubts about their capabilities of winning Europe’s top prize.

The drab victory over Valladolid, in which Lionel Messi scored a penalty and missed one, followed a goalless stalemate at Athletic Bilbao, a 2-2 draw with Valencia and a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.

Coach Valverde has played down the significance of his side’s recent slack displays.

“Sometimes you cannot be brilliant in every game, but I think the team is ready to play at its very best,” he said.

Defender Gerard Pique, however, was more scathing of Barca’s performance and warned of the potential consequences of their lacklustre displays. “We were not the Barca we wanted to be, the result was good, the sensations were not,” he said. “We must improve on Tuesday or we will suffer a lot. If we don’t move the ball quickly, dominate the play and possession or create chances, we are a weaker team.”

Barca have fallen at the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League each year since last winning it in 2015, suffering a particularly humiliating elimination to Roma last season after taking a 4-1 lead in the first leg of the tie.

They have looked on enviously as Real Madrid have won the last three editions of the big eared trophy, swelling their total number of European Cups to 13, which makes Barca’s five look measly by comparison.