Advertisement

Barcelona problems extended to Camp Nou after away struggles in 2019-20

Getty Images
Getty Images

One of the recurring themes through Barcelona's 2019-20 season has been their problems away from home.

Struggles on the road were a feature of the first half of the campaign under Ernesto Valverde and have continued since the appointment of Quique Setien in January.

All seven defeats this term have come away from Camp Nou and with the Champions League to be played at a neutral venue from the quarter-finals onwards due to coronavirus, Barca look likely to finish another season unbeaten at home.

But since Setien's arrival, Barcelona have found it difficult to kill off teams at their famous stadium.

Only two of the 10 home games in that time have seen Barcelona win convincingly: a 5-1 success in the Copa del Rey in January against a Leganes side more preoccupied with their fight for league survival and a 5-0 victory over Eibar in late February.

Barca beat Leganes 2-0 in LaLiga recently, needing a Lionel Messi penalty to make sure of that win, while the only blip in terms of results at home under Setien came in a 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid last week.

All the remaining games have been won by a single goal: 1-0 against Granada, Real Sociedad, Athletic Club and Espanyol (on Wednesday); and 2-1 versus Levante and Getafe.

By contrast, Barca drew 0-0 against Real Madrid at Camp Nou under Valverde, but won their other eight league games at home much more emphatically: 5-2 against Real Betis, Valencia and Mallorca, 4-0 over Sevilla, 5-1 versus Valladolid, 4-1 vs Celta Vigo and Alaves.

In Europe, there was a disappointing draw against Sparta Prague at Camp Nou (0-0), but Valverde's side beat Inter Milan 2-1 and Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in the other two Champions League group games at home.

Setien has yet to play a European fixture at Camp Nou and it still has not been decided whether Barca's last-16 return match against Napoli will be played at Camp Nou or at a neutral venue.

With no fans allowed in the stadium post-pandemic, home games have become more difficult, but Setien's side were struggling at Camp Nou even before the enforced break.

Sunday's 4-1 win at Villarreal was widely praised, but the game against Espanyol highlighted Barca's problems against an organised low block and the inability to win convincingly even at home has made the Blaugrana look just as fragile as they were earlier in the season.

Under Valverde, Barcelona were criticised for poor performances even when results were good. Setien's arrival was supposed to see a return to attractive football and more dominant displays, but it has not really worked so far and time is running out.

LaLiga is all but lost as Setien's side trail Real Madrid and the Champions League will be extremely difficult to win in one-off ties against opponents on much better form than Barca at the moment.

The Camp Nou, meanwhile, has remained a fortress just a lot less intimidating for visiting teams than it was before.

Read more

Barcelona 1-0 Espanyol: Suarez keeps title hopes alive after Fati red

Ansu Fati sent off after VAR review during Barcelona vs Espanyol

'Of course we can win it'- Setien bullish over Barcelona title hopes

Guardiola: I hope Messi stays at Barcelona

Xavi won't coach Barcelona before 2021 after Al-Sadd renewal

Barcelona president hints at Real Madrid VAR referee bias in LaLiga