The ghosts of Anfield still haunt Barcelona
Ernesto Valverde's men fell to their third LaLiga reverse of the 2019-20 season with a defeat away to Valencia based Levante UD.
After away defeats in Bilbao and Granada, Barcelona slipped to their third loss of the current league campaign with three quick-fire second half goals from Levante enough to condemn the champions to their third slip-up of the season. In all these games, a collective poor display coupled with defensive lapses have seen the Catalan side suffer the same amount of defeats now in eleven league games as they did in all of the 2018-19 season when they stormed to the LaLiga title.
Alarm bells are sounding at the club with clear moments of lacks in concentration in games especially away from home causing clear concern at the Barça club offices. Some in positions of power see connections with the dip in intensity and attention that was prevalent in the now infamous 4-0 Champions League semi-final at Anfield when the English club pulled off a come-back that few though possible. On that night, Barça let the tie slip in 25 minutes, shipping three goals from the 54th minute through to the 79th.
Orriols becomes Anfield
Barcelona were totally in control in Saturday's game in Valencia with Messi putting the Catalan side ahead from the spot but in then second half, the ghosts of Anfield lurked in every shadow if the compact Ciutat de Valencia stadium with Barcelona shipping three goals in just seven minutes of second half action (minutes 61 through to 68) with Valverde's men running out of time to finally come to terms with the state of play.
Barcelona's display at El Sadar was not dissimilar with Osasuna penning the Catalan side back as the clock ticked down and Barcelona on that night were fortunate to claim a point from their visit to Pamplona. During spells of the Champions League tie in Prague, Czech side Slavia had Barça on the ropes and only an inspired performance from Ter Stegen saved the Catalan side's blushes. The pain of Anfield still lingers and Ernesto Valverde has a major task on his hand to ensure this bout of post traumatic stress sees that after Pamplona, Prague, Los Cármenes and now Valencia, no more grounds become yet another Anfield for the men in claret and navy.