Barcelona worse in defence than for 13 years
It was back in the Rijkaard era the defence was this poor in the start to a season
Barcelona are top of La Liga despite a terrible week where they took 2 points from 9 available. One of the worst problems is the way they concede goals. They have let in eight in seven games, the same as in the first 19 games of last season.
You have to go back to the 2005-06 season under Frank Rijkaard, to find a more fragile Barca. The Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Deco team won the league and Champions League double but by week seven had shipped 10 goals and were sixth in the table with 10 points. No doubt a worse situation than now.
FIVE GAMES CONCEDING
The 1-1 draw with Athletic Club left fans with a bad taste in the mouth at Camp Nou and added to the 2-2 draw with Girona and the 2-1 defeat by Leganes.
Barcelona have only kept clean sheets against Alaves (3-0) and Valladolid (0-1), letting in goals in each of the last five league games.
Valverde is keeping a measured discourse but Barca's playing style is being questioned. Behind closed doors he criticsed the team for "a lack of attitude" after the Butarque shambles.
NO MESSI NO PARTY
Barca's Messidependencia is obvious. Leo has scored five of the 18 the team have netted, as well as setting up another five, including Munir's equaliser against Athletic.
The last seven times Messi has been benched the team have drawn five games and only won twice.
It's also evident that for barca to be competitive in the final stages of the season they need Messi to rest. A dilemma for Valverde who also has not found a formula for good play in the middle which offers balance and good football. Barca don't seem like Barca.
Not even the Barca of last season, unbeaten (until week 37), who had let in just two goals at athis point. Only bettered by the 2014-15 season (no goals by now).
| SEASON | POSITION | TEAM | PTS | GAMES | WIN | DRAW | LOSE | GF-GA |
| 2018/19 | ||||||||
| 1º | Barça | 14 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18-8 | |
| 2º | R. Madrid | 14 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12-6 | |
| 4º | Atlético | 12 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8-4 | |
| 2017/18 (Barça win title) | 1º | Barça | 21 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 23-2 |
| 4º | Atlético | 15 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 12-4 | |
| 5º | R. Madrid | 14 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13-6 | |
| 2016/17 (R. Madrid win title) | 1º | Atlético | 15 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 14-2 |
| 2º | R. Madrid | 15 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 16-7 | |
| 4º | Barça | 13 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 22-10 | |
| 2015/16 (Barca win title) | 2º | R. Madrid | 15 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 15-2 |
| 4º | Barça | 15 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 12-9 | |
| 5º | Atlético | 13 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10-4 | |
| 2014/15 (Barca win title) | 1º | Barça | 19 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 19-0 |
| 4º | R. Madrid | 15 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 25-9 | |
| 5º | Atlético | 14 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12-7 | |
| 2013/14 (Atletico win title) | 1º | Barça | 21 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24-5 |
| 2º | Atlético | 21 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 19-5 | |
| 3º | R. Madrid | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14-7 | |
| 2012/13 (Barca win title) | 1º | Barça | 19 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 19-7 |
| 2º | Atlético | 19 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 18-8 | |
| 5º | R. Madrid | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 14-7 | |
| 2011/12* (R. Madrid win title) | 1º | Barça | 17 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 26-4 |
| 3º | R. Madrid | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 24-6 | |
| 8º | Atlético | 9 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8-6 | |
| 2010/11 (Barca win title) | 1º | R. Madrid | 19 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16-3 |
| 4º | Barça | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12-6 | |
| 5º | Atlético | 13 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12-7 | |
| 2009/10 (Barca win title) | 1º | Barça | 19 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 17-3 |
| 2º | R. Madrid | 18 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21-6 | |
| 15º | Atlético | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9-17 | |
| 2008/09 (Barca win title) | 4º | Barça | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 19-7 |
| 5º | R. Madrid | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20-10 | |
| 8º | Atlético | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 13-12 | |
| 2007/08 (R. Madrid win title) | 1º | R. Madrid | 19 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 16-3 |
| 2º | Barça | 17 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16-4 | |
| 6º | Atlético | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11-7 | |
| 2006/07 (R. Madrid win title) | 1º | Barça | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16-7 |
| 4º | R. Madrid | 14 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10-3 | |
| 7º | Atlético | 13 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10-6 | |
| 2005/06 (Barca win title) | 1º | R. Madrid | 15 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 17-6 |
| 6º | Barça | 10 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 14-10 | |
| 16º | Atlético | 7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6-9 |
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