The seven capital sins committed by Ronald Koeman's Barcelona this season

The seven capital sins committed by Ronald Koeman's Barcelona this season

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There have been too many mistakes and off days for a team that aspires to win the title

Barcelona are virtually on the beach after drawing against Levante on Tuesday and seeing their hopes of winning La Liga slip away.

Ronald Koeman's side, who have dropped seven points in their last four games, have been inconsistent in defence all season and have ended up paying the price for that and their failure to close games out.

Assuming that this was the first year of a new project, the demands shouldn't be the highest and supporters can understand and accept a failure to beat Atletico or Real Madrid, but not the disconnect that has cost Barça other matches.

Errors in Cádiz (2-1)

The defeat in Cadiz back in December was the first big sign that the team lacked concentration at the back. Cadiz took the lead at a corner when the marking was inexistent and later, after Barça had levelled, a mix up between Jordi Alba and Marc-Andre ter Stegen handed the hosts the three points.

Red carpet for Juve to top the group (0-3)

Even a 0-2 defeat in the final group stage game in the Champions League would have seen Barça through to the last 16 as group winners. However, Juve took advantage of the Blaugrana's passivity. A Ronaldo penalty, a McKennie goal and another Ronald penalty, awarded after an incomprehensible handball by Clement Lenglet, condemned Barça to second place and a date with Paris Saint-Germain.

Couldn't hold on in Super Cup (2-3)

With a 2-1 lead in the Spanish Super Cup final, Barça were unable to maintain the tension and ended up letting Athletic Bilbao back into the game. In added time, Villalibre scored to take the game to extra-time, where Iñaki Williams won it for the Basque side.

El Barça no ha encontrado nunca la fiabilidad defensiva

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Hammered by PSG (1-4)

No one will argue about going out of the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain but they may about how, especially seeing how Barça did when they stepped up in Paris. The problem was that in the first leg, Barça gave up too many goals too easily to Pochettino's side. For example, the 1-2 was a simple pass into space that took out the whole Barça backline. The 1-3 was a free header for Kean from a free kick. It was an unacceptable level of defending.

Cádiz... again (1-1)

With Barça climbing the La Liga table, they were unable to kill the game off against Cadiz at Camp Nou and paid in the final minute when Lenglet again gave away a penalty. The 1-1 draw cost Koeman's side two vital points.

Granada spoil chance to go top (1-2)

Just when Barça had the chance to go top for the first time, outright with all teams on even games, they stumbled at home to Granada. Once again with a lead, an error from Mingueza let Granada back into the game and another by Pique and Umtiti when marking Molina saw the away side take all three points.

Self-destructing at (3-3)

Despite not having La Liga in their hands, Barça still had a chance going to Valencia and could have put pressure on Atletico and Real Madrid. They had to win, though. They led 2-0 but bad defending gifted Levante two goals and, after Ousmane Dembele restored Barça's lead, more shoddy work allowed the home side to earn a point that all but knocked Barça out of the title race, chucking away all the good work of the last four months.

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