The race for the La Liga title this season is not close as Real Madrid are clear leaders on the table. Barcelona, on the other hand, are out of form as they recently produced a draw against Villarreal and failed to gain ground on their rivals.
The reigning La Liga champions are not off to a good start in 2017. They lost to Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the Round of 16 of the Copa Del Rey then barely earned a draw last weekend against Villarreal. Lionel Messi scored from a free kick in the 90th minute to equalize, per ESPN FC.
Barcelona currently sits third on the La Liga table behind Real Madrid and Sevilla. Madrid has a five-point advantage even though they are a game behind. The reigning Champions League winners had to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup and missed one week of La Liga action.
According to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Barcelona might be nearing the end of the Luis Enrique era. He noted that the club looked tired and in need of a new coach. He also pointed out that both club and coach need a new start.
"Barcelona are looking like a team who are tired. Maybe mentally, maybe it is the coach who is not committing his future to the club yet," Balague wrote in his column on Sky Sports.
"Maybe is it just the whole dynamic of the team that suggests that they need a new impetus that a new coach could give them. It is as if they are getting to the end of the Luis Enrique era," he added.
Barcelona have a lot of problems at the moment and it all boils down to Enrique's tactics of focusing on the offense. However, the offense is in shambles with Neymar's goal drought and Luis Suarez struggling for form, per MARCA.com.
The team is asking too much from Messi, who is expected to carry the team in the next several games. Barcelona will host Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday for the second leg of the Round of 16 of the Copa Del Rey. It is a must-win game for the Luis Enrique's side.
