Barcelona’s Stakes Remain High: Rethinking Priorities as League Title Slips Away

While La Liga seems practically out of reach, Barcelona must reassess its list of priorities. Qualifying for the Champions League and the Spanish Supercup are now essential objectives.

The dream of winning La Liga hinged significantly on the outcome between Real Madrid and Girona at the Bernabéu. Ultimately, the northern neighbors, as stated by Míchel himself in a metaphorical sense, confirmed that this isn’t their league. The resounding victory for Real Madrid has widened the gap, making it nearly impossible for Barcelona. Sleeping 11 points behind the leader isn’t the ideal mindset for the upcoming match against Granada, but there’s still much at stake, and complacency is not an option.

Barcelona anticipated yesterday’s match between the top two with hopes of narrowing the points gap. However, the difference has increased, with Real Madrid now leading by eleven points. Even if Barcelona manages to trim the distance to eight points today, it’s still too many to consider a title defense realistic.

Changing priorities is not just necessary but, realistically, imperative to avoid missing the mark. Similar to Xavi taking charge in 2021 when the team was ninth, securing qualification for the next season’s Champions League should be the top priority now. The situation is much more favorable for Barcelona than it was back then, with Girona trailing by six points, potentially reducing to three if they win against Granada.

However, Barcelona should not only look up but also be mindful of their pursuers. Atlético, in fourth place, has two points less, while Athletic, in fifth, is five points away—a much closer distance than the leader’s advantage over Barcelona. It’s time to grit their teeth and, in the remaining fifteen matches, ensure a place in the Champions League next season.

Green Shoots Xavi’s team returns to Montjuïc after securing two consecutive victories against Betis and Alavés, putting behind the setbacks against Athletic in the Copa and, notably, Villarreal in the league. The positive signs displayed in Vitoria suggest a shift in momentum. Xavi’s announcement of his departure at the end of the season likely plays a role, easing the incessant pressure around his position and allowing players the freedom to express their football on the field.

A clear example is Robert Lewandowski, who is finding the net regularly and regaining confidence. The camaraderie within the squad is strong, and the next step is to close in on Girona, which would be just one game away if they secure three points today. Anything beyond that will be an extra reward, currently out of reach due to Real Madrid’s dominance, both on the field and in refereeing decisions. It’s time to be pragmatic, acknowledging that certain challenges cannot be contemplated from the Blaugrana perspective at this moment. The project is in a construction phase and needs more time to solidify. The first step is to focus on the next match, tonight against Granada at Montjuïc, where Barcelona drew in the first leg due to a disallowed goal from Joao Félix.

The Spanish Supercup, Six Points Away Beyond La Liga and Champions League qualification, another goal for Barcelona this season is to secure a spot in the Spanish Supercup next season. With Barcelona already out of the Copa del Rey, their only chance to qualify is by winning La Liga or finishing as the runner-up, the most feasible option at present.

To achieve this, they must surpass Girona in the second position. Míchel’s team is currently six points ahead, which could reduce to three if Xavi’s team wins against Granada tonight. As mentioned, there’s too much at stake, both in terms of sporting achievement and economic impact, to let go.