Post El Clasico, the Barcelona team has failed to replicate the same hunger and intensity showed at the start of the season. Following up the El clasico defeat with a disappointing performance against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena. Having won the game due to a late winner by Ronald Araujo, another test awaited the Catalan giant in Germany facing Shakhtar Donetsk with the aim of securing qualifications into the knockout stages of the Uefa Champions League.
Barcelona once again failed to deliver on the night as they came out losers in a 1-0 defeat. A match in which Barcelona lacked creativity and inspiration. Giving rest to some of his best performers this season and losing the match resulted in lots of criticism for the Barcelona manager.
Whilst coming out of Germany with a defeat appears to be a big blow to the teams confidence and club finance, the Catalan side are still in pole position to secure qualification into the knockout stages of the competition provided they can carve out a win against FC Porto. A match which could decide who tops the group come match day 6 .
Whilst concerns grow over the performances of Xavi’s team as failure to improve could see the team fall into the Europa league for the third consecutive time under his reign . The manager continues to receive the backing of Joan Laporta and the Barcelona board, as the board members see him as the right man to take the club forward.
