In the middle of December, Barcelona faced back-to-back defeats against Girona and Royal Antwerp. This unexpected outcome raised eyebrows, considering Barcelona's history of rarely losing two games in a season, let alone against relatively smaller opponents. The current manager, Xavi Hernandez, used a defensive tone to address the growing concern about his team's performances. He emphasized the need for unity in the face of criticism and expressed confidence in the team's ability to win four titles.
Fast forward a month later, and the alarm bells are ringing even louder. Barcelona suffered a 4-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey's round of 16, further diminishing their chances of winning titles. The Analyst's projections suggest that Barcelona has a mere 3.2% likelihood of clinching LaLiga, while in the Champions League, ESPN Bet's odds place their chances of winning the European Cup at around 7%.
