The Argentine attacker has struggled in recent matches, his dip in form coinciding with a slump in La Liga and elimination from the Champions League on Wednesday
What has happened to Lionel Messi? The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has gone missing in recent weeks and in that time, Barcelona's treble hopes have evaporated. Now they need him back or risk complete capitulation in the remainder of the season.
Barcelona have won only one of their last five games. That was against Atletico Madrid in the teams' Champions League quarter-final at Camp Nou, a 2-1 success secured only after Diego Simeone's side had been reduced to 10 men. And in any case, it ended up counting for nothing as Atleti won the second leg 2-0 to knock the Blaugrana out of Europe.
Prior to that, Luis Enrique's men drew 2-2 with Villarreal after throwing away a 2-0 lead, then lost the Clasico clash 2-1 at home to Real Madrid and fell again at Anoeta last weekend. Eight points out of nine dropped, with both Atleti and Madrid now back in the title race and Messi powerless to prevent it.
Despite spending almost two months on the sidelines earlier in 2015-16, Messi has hit 37 goals for the Catalan club this term and racked up 15 assists. All of those came in his first 37 games in the current campaign, but in the last five fixtures there is little to cheer for the Argentine attacker: no goals, no assists and only five shots on target.
Barcelona have won only one of their last five games. That was against Atletico Madrid in the teams' Champions League quarter-final at Camp Nou, a 2-1 success secured only after Diego Simeone's side had been reduced to 10 men. And in any case, it ended up counting for nothing as Atleti won the second leg 2-0 to knock the Blaugrana out of Europe.
Prior to that, Luis Enrique's men drew 2-2 with Villarreal after throwing away a 2-0 lead, then lost the Clasico clash 2-1 at home to Real Madrid and fell again at Anoeta last weekend. Eight points out of nine dropped, with both Atleti and Madrid now back in the title race and Messi powerless to prevent it.
Despite spending almost two months on the sidelines earlier in 2015-16, Messi has hit 37 goals for the Catalan club this term and racked up 15 assists. All of those came in his first 37 games in the current campaign, but in the last five fixtures there is little to cheer for the Argentine attacker: no goals, no assists and only five shots on target.
Against Atletico at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday, Messi did not muster a single shot on goal in the 90 minutes and was particularly poor in what was a tired and toothless performance from the entire team.
Some reports in the Spanish media later claimed the Argentine is injured, but Barcelona confirmed to Goal that there is no injury and the 28-year-old has trained normally since the loss at Atletico.
Aside from that denial, the Catalan club have declined to comment on talk of alleged physical problems for their finest footballer, but something is clearly amiss and Barca will hope he can rediscover his form sooner rather than later in a season that threatens to implode unless they can quickly arrest their dramatic decline.
Some reports in the Spanish media later claimed the Argentine is injured, but Barcelona confirmed to Goal that there is no injury and the 28-year-old has trained normally since the loss at Atletico.
Aside from that denial, the Catalan club have declined to comment on talk of alleged physical problems for their finest footballer, but something is clearly amiss and Barca will hope he can rediscover his form sooner rather than later in a season that threatens to implode unless they can quickly arrest their dramatic decline.
Asked about Messi's disappointing display against Atleti, Luis Enrique said: "It's unfair to talk about individuals after a defeat, just like it is after a victory. I won't do that. We are not in our best moment, but I have no complaints at all with the players' attitude."
Barca's short squad is a problem and failure to bring in Spain striker Nolito in the winter window has had a negative effect as Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez seem fatigued - especially since the recent international break when all three were back in South America to represent their respective national teams.
Nevertheless, Messi is accustomed to playing in every single game. In fact, it is what he demands. Unless he is at risk of injury, he always wants to be in the team. And unfortunately for Luis Enrique, it is now going to be extremely difficult to find a time to rest him. Because Barca host Valencia on Sunday and then face a tough trip to Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday - and there is now no margin for error after Atleti and Madrid moved back into contention for the title.
Barca's short squad is a problem and failure to bring in Spain striker Nolito in the winter window has had a negative effect as Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez seem fatigued - especially since the recent international break when all three were back in South America to represent their respective national teams.
Nevertheless, Messi is accustomed to playing in every single game. In fact, it is what he demands. Unless he is at risk of injury, he always wants to be in the team. And unfortunately for Luis Enrique, it is now going to be extremely difficult to find a time to rest him. Because Barca host Valencia on Sunday and then face a tough trip to Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday - and there is now no margin for error after Atleti and Madrid moved back into contention for the title.
The last time Messi suffered such a slump was in 2013-14 under Gerardo Martino, when the forward's injury-hit campaign and lack of real rhythm saw Barca badly disrupted and the Catalans missed out on the major prizes at the end of the season.
That was a World Cup year and Messi's main aim was to peak in time for the game's greatest showpiece in Brazil, when Argentina ultimately missed out by losing to Germany in the final in Rio de Janeiro.
"Everything I play with the national team is a priority," Messi said in an interview last December. "I have been lucky enough to win everything with my club and individually. And I also want to win something with the Selección." Nevertheless, he will be keen to add some silverware with his club too before this summer's Copa America Centenario kicks off in the United States.
That was a World Cup year and Messi's main aim was to peak in time for the game's greatest showpiece in Brazil, when Argentina ultimately missed out by losing to Germany in the final in Rio de Janeiro.
"Everything I play with the national team is a priority," Messi said in an interview last December. "I have been lucky enough to win everything with my club and individually. And I also want to win something with the Selección." Nevertheless, he will be keen to add some silverware with his club too before this summer's Copa America Centenario kicks off in the United States.
0 Comment to " Sports: Barcelona need Messi back to his best and fast"
Post a Comment