Barcelona Return To Winning Ways

Last weekend’s defeat was inevitable given the Catalans were likely to suffer a loss sooner or later with the congested fixture list. The main concern was whether Barcelona would be able to recover after succumbing to Atletico Madrid or if the loss would signal the beginning of a mid-season slump.

Barca’s answer was emphatic as the players ensured the club returned to winning ways and in impressive manner. Barca’s players dismantled the opposition while hitting the back of the net on four occasions signalling their intent to not just retain their la Liga title but to do so with style.

Barcelona have so many weapons to simply yield after a single defeat but to any critic the manner with which the club responded must have left all those doubting the squad’s abilities in disbelief. Josep Guardiola made sure the players remained focused and put behind their first la Liga defeat in order to regroup and achieve victory.

Earlier today Barca achieved a precious 1-1 away draw in the Champions League which gives them the upper hand in the tie against Stuttgart. A win this coming weekend against Malaga at the Camp Nou will surely show the defeat to Real Madrid’s city rivals was a mere blip in an otherwise positive season. In January the Copa del Rey loss was avenged with a crushing victory over Sevilla to show the players were simply unlucky and perhaps taking matters lightly in certain matches. After losing to Ateltico in la Liga, Barca once again reacted in the correct manner to emphatically win their following match. On the long run Guardiola has the suitable players to respond to any drop in form. He can also count on the best player in the world in the shape of Lionel Messi.

Despite the return to winning ways, Guardiola must be concerned with Real Madrid’s strong surge and the fact Los Galacticos are a mere two points behind in the standings. The clash between the two sides might actually determine the destination of the title this season. In the meantime supporters of Barca and even football fans in general ought to enjoy the entertaining displays put on by the club’s players. Messi often glides and weaves his way through a number of defenders while talented Spaniards Xavi and Andres Iniesta complete the core of a spectacular midfield. The embarrassment of wealth at the Camp Nou is perhaps best exemplified by how Frenchman Thierry Henry cannot even nail a starring role in Guardiola’s lineup.

Was Barca’s Defeat to Ateltico a Mere Slip?(opinion)