The early days of the Hansi Flick era in Barcelona couldn't have gone better, with the team playing like one of the world's best for the first two months of the 2024-25 season. Suddenly, come Nov, 10. things took a turn and now, the honeymoon period is over.
After winning 11 of their first 12 league games, Barcelona have just one win in the last six, tallying just five points from a possible 18. After beating Espanyol on Nov. 3, a week following the 4–0 dismantling of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, the Catalans had a nine point lead in La Liga. Now, that lead has been squandered and both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid—their next league opponent—can overtake them in the standings if they win their game in hand.
Granted, Barcelona's "crisis" is one many European teams would gladly take. First in La Liga and second in the UEFA Champions League league phase at the halfway point of the campaign doesn't necessarily spell big trouble.
However, what's happened to Barcelona in the last month and a half could be an ominous warning tale of what could fully materialize in the decisive part of the season come 2025. If the Blaugrana want to seriously contend for silverware, there are concrete issues they must resolve.
