Ways in Which Barcelona Must Improve to Win Silverware This Season
Even if they beat Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Sunday, Barcelona will head into 2017 having played a game more than Real Madrid and at least three points behind their rivals in La Liga.
There is little doubt now that the Catalans must improve to win titles this season, with their form wildly inconsistent, sometimes within the same game. For example, their first half against Manchester City at the Etihad sparkled, while the second was atrocious.
After Barcelona's 3-0 win at Osasuna last weekend, manager Luis Enrique pointed out that "to put pressure on Madrid, the only thing that serves us is winning games."
And while the Blaugrana will hope that Madrid's schedule catches up to them, all they can do is focus on improving their own game.
There are various ways they can do that. One is to start at a higher intensity, to come out of the blocks and go for the jugular.
Too often Barcelona seem to take a while to get warmed up and into the game.
However, they seem to be acknowledging this, and in their three most recent games—the 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, the 4-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach and the Osasuna victory—they have improved on this front.
Another change that would be useful, albeit hard to manage, is to be less reliant on the forward line.
When you have Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, of course, it influences how you play.
As Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez said, per Sport: "The titles will come. We're not on a bad path. There are three monsters up front who condition the team's play."
If the MSN are at their best, then Barcelona must play through them. But if one of the three is absent or out of form, the team can look a little short.
Losing any of the three upsets the balance and makes it easier for opponents to double up on the remaining forwards.
With Andres Iniesta out for six weeks, the bridge-builder between the midfield and attack was gone, and even with the full complement of strikers, Barcelona found it hard to connect play.
The captain's return from his knee problem has seen the team revert to a more possession-based style that fits them more naturally.
In general, it is good that the team have learned how to play in a different way under Luis Enrique, but the danger is that they'll forget part of their style.
That is going to be a long-term issue because the club is no longer filled with players who have learned the Barcelona way at La Masia. As technically gifted as players like Andre Gomes are, without being formed playing like Barcelona do, they may never reach the level where it becomes their most natural way of playing.
Certainly, the coach's aim in starting the Portuguese midfielder in five of the last six games was to bring more control to the middle of the pitch. Ivan Rakitic is not playing as well as he usually does, but even at his best, the Croatian isn't necessarily the man you want to have in the team when you are playing a patient game, stroking it about in midfield.
The team must improve at home, too. Curiously, they have been strong on the road, but at Camp Nou, they have dropped points against Alaves, Malaga, Atletico and Real Madrid.
After the goalless draw with Malaga at Camp Nou, Gerard Pique was angry. He told Sport, h/t Sky Sports: "It's worrying that we have lost so many points at home. No one wanted a draw in a game which realistically we had to win. We are Barcelona, and we cannot make excuses. We have players who are worth a lot of money and a budget which is outrageous compared to Malaga."
Then there are issues relating to individual players and the squad. One position that is not secure is the right-back berth. Sergi Roberto is the current first choice, but Luis Enrique is not confident in his backup, Aleix Vidal.
We analysed the situation in depth on here.
Within the starting XI, there seems to be two dilemmas for Luis Enrique. The forward line is set in stone: It is the MSN.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the goalkeeper, while Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta are fixtures in midfield, with the third position a battle between Gomes and Rakitic.
Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto, left- and right-backs, respectively, are first choice, along with Pique in central defence. It is Pique's partner that is the other contentious position, with Samuel Umtiti vying for Javier Mascherano's place.
The Argentine is still an important character in the squad, but his mistakes have been exposed recently, with the player kicking off about it in the media. Asked by Antena3 (h/t ESPN) if he concedes too many penalties, Mascherano replied:
"I haven't given away too many. I think some of them I have given away, but not others.
According to the geniuses that commentate on television, though, I give them all away. I commit a lot of errors and I accept that, I'm not perfect, but it's easy to comment with slow-motion replays and a thousand angles.
"
By the end of the season, it is easy to imagine Umtiti will have put Mascherano on the bench.
The other new signings will continue to bed in, which also should help Barcelona improve.
Individual players must raise their game, too. Busquets has started already, with his performances against Real Madrid in the Clasico and at Osasuna the following week already topping any displays he put in before them.
Neymar is in good creative form, but the Brazilian is having trouble in front of goal, failing to score in his previous eight games. In that time he has created five goals, which is impressive, but the team need him to finish moves, too.
Barcelona are by no means in a terrible situation; in fact, the only reason there is doubt over them is because of the heights they have hit before.
With a few changes, they may be able to get back to their best, but tinker too much, and things could change negatively. Luis Enrique needs to fine-tune rather than reconstruct.
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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