Barcelona get off to worst La Liga start for 11 years
Luis Enrique's side has accumulated 13 points from the opening seven games, their lowest total since Frank Rijkaard and Ronaldinho were at the club in 2005 <ul> <li> <a href="http://en.as.com/en/2017/04/19/football/1492593377_792203.html" title="Barcelona vs Juventus: live online Champions League 2016/17">Barcelona vs Juventus</a> </li> </ul>
After seven games, Barcelona have already dropped eight points and the 13 that have been accumulated is the club’s lowest total over the same amount of matches since 2005 – a year in which the Catalans ended up as LaLiga and Champions League double winners.
Two defeats in seven games
Following the 4-3 defeat away to Celta Vigo on Sunday, Barça have now lost two of their opening seven encounters. The loss in Galicia follows the shock home reversal at the hands of Alavés in Septmeber.
Despite Luis Enrique insisting that this is the best squad he’s had to choose from since he arrived at the club, the reality on the pitch seems a little bit different for the Spanish champions at the moment.
Injury, errors, and below-par performances
Lionel Messi’s injury hasn’t helped with the balance of the side, and neither has the below-par form of one of Barcelona’s normally most consistent players, Sergio Busquets, nor the frequent errors of goalkeeper Ter Stegen, who gifted Celta a fourth goal in Balaídos.
While Barça have good back-up for every position (bar Busquets), the performances of the team across the board haven’t yet hit the heights of last season, with strikers Neymar and Luis Suarez seeming much less lucid and determined in particular.
Worst start since 2005
Los Cules, who find themselves fourth in the league with 13 points after the weekend’s results, haven’t had such a low total since the 2005/06 season. By the end of that year, however, the team coached by Frank Rijkaard and starring Ronaldinho finished by winning a historic double: La Liga and the Champions League.
Related stories
After the opening seven games during that campaign, Barça were even worse off the than they are now, with a total of 10 points (three less than the current side) from two victories, four draws, and one defeat.
Deportivo, Man City up next
On return from the international break Luis Enrique’s team will play Deportivo La Coruña at Camp Nou on 15 October, followed by Manchester City at home in the Champions League (19 Oct).