Barça haven’t won in three league games, and when you’re not scoring points, they ask themselves the big questions, and they aren’t bigger than Messi
Barcelona lost El Clásico, falling 3-1 at home to La Liga leaders Real Madrid on Saturday, leaving the Catalans languishing in 12th place.
It is still early in the season, but it is worrying that they have not won in three league games, after drawing 1-1 with Sevilla and losing 1-0 in Getafe. When you’re not racking up points, the big questions get asked faster and are no bigger than Lionel Messi.
The club’s captain and talisman is not playing poorly, and had one of his best games this season in the Clásico, but has not scored in open play in six, with only two penalties to his name. It is obvious that he has not yet found his place in the configuration of new coach Ronald Koeman.
Playing in the hole against Madrid, Philippe Coutinho drifted to the left and Ansu Fati ahead, with Pedri on the right, seemed to be a better fit for him than in any other game of the season.
“He returned to being the Messi of always, active, participative and always dangerous,” he wrote Sports world . “(Thibaut) Courtois denied his goal, but he played a great game.”
Real Madrid’s Belgian stopper was alert at his near post when Messi left Ramos for dead with a quick turn in the area, the Argentine’s best moment in the game.
Messi’s most important contribution, however, was a perfect pass for Jordi Alba, which led to Barcelona’s draw. The number 10 has played countless of these balls in his career and their precision, combined with the pace of the winger, means that no one can stop them.
Alba shot on a low cut, as she does so often, and Fati made sure to reach the end to level after Federico Valverde’s opener.
It should be noted that Messi does not have multiple scoring opportunities in every game. Despite his other fine and varied contributions, if he can no longer score at the same pace he has done for the last decade, Barcelona have a big problem.
Messi did not leave this summer despite desperately wanting to leave the Camp Nou, but for now it seems his goals did.
The forward was the club’s top scorer last season with 31 goals in all competitions, his lowest record since the 2007-08 campaign, but he is still a significant loot. With 25 goals in La Liga, he was the division’s top scorer. Luis Suárez was the club’s second top scorer and his move to Atlético de Madrid has left a lot of space to fill.
Koeman demands more from his players than Quique Setien or Ernesto Valverde, and that is also taking its toll. Messi was twice on the right back against Real Madrid, tackling back, and once as a left back.
Against Celta de Vigo when Barcelona had 10 men in the middle of the game, he did so much defensive work and running it was hard to believe it was Messi. At 33, he can’t do all of that and still has the same volume of attacking starts.
Against Villarreal, Celta Vigo and Sevilla, Koeman operated with Messi as a false nine. The Dutchman may have expected him to recreate his good scoring form there with Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova, but those years and his electric rhythm are gone.
Koeman moved Messi to the right against Getafe and gave Antoine Griezmann an opening up front, but that didn’t work either, with the forward making a quiet display.
“Perhaps, at this point, Messi’s performances could be better,” Koeman said afterward. Playing on the right flank could be the way to go: it’s where he’s appeared in recent years, and this could have been a rough night at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, compared to “a trip to the dentist.”
He played the false nine again against Ferencvaros, which despite Barcelona’s great 5-1 triumph and Messi’s converted penalty, was the most worrying of the games so far in terms of its lack of goals. If you couldn’t take part in the action against Hungarian minnows, when will you?
Or maybe we should get used to it, while Messi passes the torch.
“Every time I think less about scoring goals. I’m starting to take a step back more and more to be the creator than the one who ends up,” Messi said. The League on DAZN in January. “Obviously I like to score, and if I get the chance I take it, but every time I go out on the pitch I’m less focused on scoring goals and more focused on the game. I’ve never been obsessed with goals.
“I understand that people are going to talk about it when they stop scoring, but that’s part of the game, part of growing as a player and adapting to the times, to be the best player for both you and the team.”
The great hope for Barcelona fans is that Messi will find his own way to be crucial this season. That’s what happened in 2014, when things were not going well with Luis Suárez stuck to the right, puffing and puffing without much success.
Messi told Suárez to switch positions with him during the clash at Ajax and the fuse was lit, with the MSN attack coming to life under Luis Enrique, and then he won the treble.
Koeman has not been covered in glory tactically. His 4-2-3-1 system is good in some respects, allowing Frenkie de Jong to work together with Sergio Busquets, although the latter was still very exposed during the Classic.
His substitutions against Getafe and Madrid, with Barcelona on the hunt for the game, were naïve bordering on stupidity, with the coach pulling on all his attackers, leaving the midfield and defense diminished and exposed. Luka Modric scored Madrid’s third with Barcelona at sea, and Sergio Ramos could have scored before him.
Despite the defeat of the Clasico, Messi’s best performance could lead to Koeman leaving him in the hole for the next few matches, leaving Coutinho out of position on the left or sitting on the bench. That can be tough for the Brazilian, but if that’s the option, Messi always wins.
Koeman’s predilection for Coutinho so far, combined with Barcelona’s inability to bring in a new striker, could be the main factor preventing the Argentine from thriving. The visit to face Juventus on Wednesday night will be another important match in determining what Barcelona’s season will be like.
All eyes will once again be on Messi, with increasing pressure on him, and on Koeman.
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