What’s gone wrong for Messi’s Barcelona?

BARCELONA are off to their worst La Liga start since Lionel Messi’s debut season nine years ago. A 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad was described as a “miracle” by Barcarca boss Luis Enrique in whatt he singled out as the worstrst performance i n hi s three seasons in charge.

B a r c a a r e a l r e a d y s i x points adrift of f Re a l Ma d r i d ahead of the El l Clasico on Satur- day. Here, we e look at what hass gone wrong so far ar this season for r the Spanish champions.ions.

Key injuries hurt urt

Messi (pictured, red, AFP) rescued Bararc e lon a f r om a f i f t h consecut ive defeat i n San Sebastian, but Sunday’s draw was the first time Barca have dropped leag ue points this season when the Argent i n ne has completed 90 mi minutes. Messi’sM presence has beenbee sorely missed in defeatsdefea to Celta Vigo and Alave Alaves and draws with Mal a g a a n d At l e t i c o Madrid.Mad However, he is far fromfro the only key man to haveha sat out some part ofo the season so far. Andres Iniesta has been out for over a month, while hi s Sp Spanish international teamma teammates Gerard Pique and Jordi Alb Alba were also sidelined for a num number of weeks.

BusquetsBusque isolated

An of often underrated pillar of Barca’sB success in the past decade, Sergio Busquets is in the midst of his most protracted dip in form since breaking into the first team under Pep Guardiola in 2008.

It is no coincidence that Busquets’ struggles have come for the first prolonged period in his career without retired legend Xavi or Iniesta by his side.

His influence in terms of touches and passes completed has waned since Enrique took charge and favoured a more direct style to feed the superstar “MSN” front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar more quickly.

However, without the ball Busquets is now being exposed by the lack of support around him as Ivan Rakitic has been forced wider on the right to protect the inexperienced Sergi Roberto, who the departed Dani Alves at right-back.

Tough start

While Barca have failed to hit the heights of old, the gap between them and Real can also be explained by the differing challenges they have faced.

The Catalans have already made tricky trips to Sevilla, Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Celta Vigo and, despite their current struggles, Valencia, as well as Atletico Madrid at home.

Real’s 31-game unbeaten run will be put firmly to the test at the Camp Nou on Saturday, but other challenges await for the European champions with four away trips in five games just as the Champions League returns in February.

Summer signing busts

Barca splurged over 120 million ($127 million) in the summer transfer window in a bid to bolster their squad. So far to no avail, as none of their six recruits have established themselves in Enrique’s preferred starting XI.

Despite beating off Madrid to the signature of Andre Gomes, the Portuguese Euro 2016 winner has failed to make an impression in Iniesta’s absence, while 30 million striker Paco Alcacer has yet to score a goal.

Messi dependent

A year ago while Messi was sidelined for two months by knee ligament damage, Neymar and Suarez ensured Barca accelerated past Madrid at the top of the table.

Twelve months on and Barca’s Messi-dependence has re-emerged with the Argentine scoring 10 of Barca’s last 14 goals. Suarez has scored just once in his last five outings, whileNeymar hasn’t scored from open play in La Liga since September.