Barcelona Already Losing Ground In Title Race

I reported on Saturday about Barcelona’s fall last season from the dizzy heights of a European and domestic double the year before where they were simply irresistible. Not only did they throw both crowns away but their arch rival Real Madrid picked up the pieces at home to win La Liga.

So this year that had to get off to a good start in La Liga, but with the Spanish season only just started, the Barca manager Frank Rijkaard will not be happy at his side already having to play “catch-up” after his team were held to a 0 - 0 draw by Osasuna on Sunday. It leaves Barca already 4 points behind Real.

Barcelona may have such attacking gems as Henry, Ronaldinho but they failed to score for the second time in three games and surrendered another two vital points.

Contrast that to Real Madrid having their best start to a La Liga season since 1992 [winning their opening three games] and the pressure is already firmly on Rijkaard and Barcelona but they failed to respond with any kind of an effective display at Osasuna, a team they would have been expected to beat comfortably.

Unfortunately for Barcelona it is not going to get any easier in the near future as they play the French champions Lyon on Wednesday then have to face Sevilla in the first big clash of the league season.

Sevilla, who moved into second place in La Liga courtesy of a 4-1 win over Recreativo De Huelva at the weekend, have played one less game, also have a perfect record and showed they are in fine shape ahead of the tough Champions League tie on Wednesday against Arsenal.

Barcelona rested Lionel Messi who was suffering from a muscular problem so Rijkaard handed the 18 year old Mexican wonder kid Giovani, who was recently capped by his country, his first start. The young Mexican went close to scoring in the 34th minute.

But overall it was a very disappointing display by a Barcelona side who, if they don’t start playing better and winning soon, the pressure will start to mount and the Barcelona public are very fickle and don’t generally have a lot of patience. I know, I used to live there! The white hankies could be waving very soon [a sign of disgust at their team] if Rijkaard and his men don’t start putting some results together and just as importantly for the Barcelona public, start playing attractive football again!

This is going to be interesting to follow!

The Soccer Blogger

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Many thanks
Rik