Barca lacks sparkle ahead of crucial UCL mission in Lyon
DESPITE an iron grip on domestic trophies, Barcelona has been haunted by its recent failures in the UEFA Champions League and there are concerning signs for the Catalans as they prepare for today’s last-16 first leg away to Olympique Lyonnais.
Ernesto Valverde’s side flies to France after an uninspiring 1-0 win at home to struggling Real Valladolid on Saturday which consolidated its lead at the top of La Liga but left plenty of doubts about its 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 semifinal first leg.
Coach Ernesto 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 its lackluster 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 has fallen at the quarterfinal stage of the UCL each year since last winning it in 2015, suffering a particularly humiliating ouster to AS Roma last season after taking a 4-1 lead in the first leg of the tie.
It has looked on enviously as Real Madrid has won the last three editions of the big eared trophy, swelling its total number of European Cups to 13, which makes Barca’s five look measly by comparison.
Despite winning three of the last four La Liga titles and collecting the Copa del Rey four years in a row, there is a widespread feeling that Barca should have fared better on the continent, especially while Messi has been at his peak.
(Reuters)