What seemed to be a peaceful period for Hansi Flick and FC Barcelona has turned into a true rollercoaster of emotions. The Catalans are going through their most tumultuous moment of the season, culminating in a new home defeat, this time against Atlético Madrid, who continues their triumphant streak.
The signs are not encouraging, and Flick is struggling to find the right formula to end this negative spiral, especially in home matches.
Camp Nou and Beyond: An Unprecedented Crisis
The absence of Camp Nou (the Blaugranas are playing at the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys due to renovation work) is not enough to explain all the problems. The defeat against Atlético Madrid (1-2) highlighted an even deeper crisis within FC Barcelona.
The Blaugranas suffered their third consecutive home defeat, equaling their worst record in history. In the 1965/66 and 1987/88 seasons, Barcelona also conceded three consecutive home defeats.
The situation becomes even more concerning when looking at the recent defeats for Flick’s team. While the loss to Atlético Madrid, who are on a 12-match winning streak across all competitions, can be forgiven, the losses to Las Palmas (1-2) and Leganés (0-1), two teams battling relegation, are much harder to justify.
A Crucial Challenge Ahead
To avoid becoming the worst home team in Barcelona’s history in La Liga, Flick and his players must avoid another defeat in their next home match. However, this match will not take place until the end of January when the Catalans will host Valencia, currently at the bottom of the La Liga standings.