The Ways Barcelona Must Improve to Fight for La Liga Title
"I don't see any problems, simply situations which can be improved, which we will work to do so throughout the year," said Luis Enrique in his press conference on a crisp Monday morning at Barcelona's training ground.
"I haven't seen any fans in low spirits. Everyone I have spoken to has been very optimistic. My message is the same as always. We keep on competing and in the end the table will tell us how we did."
It was business as usual from Barcelona's coach, although the situation changed a lot this weekend in La Liga—while also not changing at all.
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On paper, everything is still the same. Real Madrid are top of the table and Barcelona are second, with a gap between them of six points, just as it was before they met on Saturday afternoon at Camp Nou.
But the table can now be trusted. It's now a table that reflects the two teams' positions fairly. It is difficult to believe the standings until post-Clasico because that game changes everything. If Barcelona had won, they would have the momentum, the positive dynamic and would be just three points behind Real Madrid.
If Madrid had won, then they would be nine clear at the top, having effectively issued a death sentence to Barcelona's attempt to retain the title for the third year running.
As it was, the teams drew 1-1 thanks to Sergio Ramos' late header cancelling out Luis Suarez's opener and left things as they were but with the asterisk removed.
That means Barcelona know that if they want to win the title, they have to improve.
"It's up to us," said Luis Enrique after that clash, although that is not true because they need Madrid to slip up now.
Of course, they will. With 24 Liga matches to go, there will be twists and turns ahead. Barcelona will especially be looking forward to Madrid suffering from their Christmas trip to Japan to compete in the Club World Cup.
The Catalans have turned their attention to Tuesday's visit of Borussia Monchengladbach, but the match is a dead rubber. Qualification to the Champions League last 16 is already assured, top of Group C.
Luis Enrique will pick a semi-reserve team and should allow some young players to take the stage, with focus once again returning to La Liga on Saturday, when they head north-west to take on Osasuna in Pamplona.
This is an important stretch of the domestic season, where Barcelona can focus on their title hopes without other distractions.
After Tuesday, the Champions League shuts down until February, while the Copa del Rey game against Hercules should be dealt with fairly easily ahead of the winter break.
They have eight league games between now and when the Champions League starts again in mid-February, and from these fixtures, the goal will be maximum points:
| December 10: | Away | Osasuna |
| December 18: | Home | Espanyol |
| January 8: | Away | Villarreal |
| January 14: | Home | Las Palmas |
| January 22: | Away | Eibar |
| January 29: | Away | Real Betis |
| February 5: | Home | Athletic Bilbao |
| February 12: | Away | Alaves |
The toughest of them is the trip to El Madrigal to face Villarreal, but the Yellow Submarine have not been playing well and anything but victory will be disappointing for Barcelona.
But given some of their performances so far this season, Barcelona have improving to do, regardless of Luis Enrique's unwillingness to publicly talk about any problems. Here are the areas they must focus on.
Fix home form
Thus far this season, Barcelona have won just 12 of the 21 points that have been on offer at Camp Nou. They actually have earned 17 away from Catalonia.
As well as drawing with Atletico Madrid, Malaga and Real Madrid at home, they criminally threw away all three points in a defeat by Alaves early in the season. Teams are not coming to Camp Nou afraid any more.
Regain their identity
While Luis Enrique has always been more willing to cede possession than Pep Guardiola was, perhaps things have gone too far. It's good that Barcelona have added a new string to their bow with fierce, cut-throat counter-attacks, but lately they have given up too much control and paid high prices.
With Andres Iniesta out injured for six weeks, the situation was exacerbated and only started to be resolved when the midfield maestro came on in the second half against Madrid and instantly gave Barcelona more calm in possession and better ideas over what to do with the ball.
Key players must find form
Luis Suarez has been out of sorts for a lot of the season. He started off by playing badly but scoring a few goals, but then that became playing badly without netting many. He was back on the scoresheet against Real Madrid, but it was one good moment in an otherwise grey game for the Uruguayan. Once he is back on top, Barcelona will be, too.
The same goes for Sergio Busquets who has had a poor few months, although his performance in the Clasico was exactly the sort we have grown so accustomed to seeing from the defensive midfielder. If he can maintain that level, then the problem is already solved. Neymar, meanwhile, is creating goals but needs to get back to scoring them, too.
More contributions from the squad players
Barcelona signed well in the summer, or so it seemed. Paco Alcacer, Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez were arriving to add heft in attacking areas to ease some of the burden on the MSN trio. Unfortunately none of them have found the net yet (and neither have the other three new signings, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne and Jasper Cillessen, although there is less onus on them).
Arda Turan can be lumped in with them. After a good start, the Turk has lost his form, with only Rafinha providing goals on a regular basis.
Sort out right-back situation
Sergi Roberto's reasonable performance against Real Madrid will have reassured Luis Enrique he is right to deploy the midfielder as a full-back. However, he needs to sign a player in January who can be the backup option because the coach clearly does not trust Aleix Vidal. While this is not a pressing issue, an injury to Roberto could jeopardise the team's hopes, even if they solve the other issues.
Keep players as fit as possible
This is an obvious point but an important one, for a side that has been hampered by injuries from the start of the season onwards. As much care should be taken as possible to keep players in top condition. Trips like the one to face Al-Ahli on December 13, between the games against Osasuna and Espanyol, are ridiculous in a purely sporting sense.
Rik Sharma is Bleacher Report's lead Barcelona correspondent. All information and quotes obtained firsthand unless specified. Follow him on Twitter here: @riksharma_.
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