Spanish media have launched harsh criticism against Barcelona following another points drop against Valencia. For the third time in six days, the Catalans, with Frenkie de Jong in the starting lineup, failed to secure a win.
The recent struggles of Barcelona under Xavi's management have drawn strong criticism from the Spanish media, with concerns mounting over the team's performance and its implications for the remainder of the season.
Marca, in particular, pointed out that despite the disappointing results, goalkeeper Iñaki Pena and the returning Frenkie de Jong were the only bright spots, both receiving a commendable 7 from the newspaper. De Jong's performance, highlighted by a 'brilliant pass' leading to a goal, stood out in an otherwise lackluster showing by the team.
Mundo Deportivo emphasizes the growing gap between Barcelona and the top of La Liga, suggesting that the club's prospects for the rest of the season are increasingly bleak. The report indicates that Barcelona has only one more match, a home fixture against Almería, to salvage a more positive outcome and avoid a deeper crisis heading into the Christmas break. However, the absence of Frenkie de Jong, suspended due to a yellow card received in the Valencia match, poses an additional challenge for the team.
AS reflects on Barcelona's inability to bounce back from previous defeats against Girona in La Liga and Antwerp FC in the Champions League. The team's struggles are described as an inability to "straighten their back," indicating a lack of resilience and consistency in their performance. Meanwhile, Sport goes a step further, characterizing Barcelona's current situation as a failure and implosion. The newspaper criticizes the team for not addressing defensive vulnerabilities, which have been a recurring issue.
Looking ahead, the league standings are poised to be reshaped by the performances of Girona and Real Madrid. If Girona, led by Daley Blind, secures a home victory against Alaves, they could establish a substantial nine-point lead over Barcelona. Real Madrid's match against Villarreal on Sunday also presents an opportunity to widen the gap.
In summary, the criticisms from Spanish media underscore the challenges faced by Barcelona, both in terms of on-field performance and the potential impact on their standing in La Liga. The absence of key players, defensive vulnerabilities, and a lack of consistency are key issues that the team needs to address to reverse its current downward trajectory.
