Barcelona walking a tightrope with no margin left after consecutive defeats | OneFootball

Barcelona’s defeat to Girona has brought a sudden shift in mood around the club. 

Just weeks after closing a seven-point gap at the top of La Liga, the Blaugrana have now slipped back into a tense title race. 

What once looked like a comeback story is suddenly uncertain again, and the timing could not be worse with the season entering its most important stretch.

After the 0-4 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, the margin leaves little room for error, and the squad knows that one more slip could end their hopes of reaching the final.

According to AS, for many inside the club, this moment brings back memories of the difficult spell during the 2024/25 season. 

During that rough patch, Hansi Flick did not hide his frustration and described the period in blunt terms, calling it a “shit November.” 

Facing a similar situation

Now, after the setback against Girona, a similar feeling is creeping back into the atmosphere around the team, with some already referring to the current run as a “shit February.”

Barcelona have lost back-to-back games. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

However, the coach and the dressing room are trying to keep perspective. The defeat against Girona exposed problems in both attack and defence, but nothing has been lost yet. 

As his first response to the Girona loss, Flick gave the squad two days off. 

The intention is for the players to clear their heads, switch off from the noise around the club, and come back ready to fight for the season, which is expected to be decided over the next month.

This pause could be key for several important players, as Pedri is expected to use the time to regain full fitness, while Lamine Yamal will look to reset mentally after a difficult run of games. 

Furthermore, refereeing controversies have also become a major talking point. While mistakes have occurred, the growing obsession with external factors risks distracting the team from its main objective. 

Even so, Barcelona remain alive in every major competition. They have already secured the Spanish Super Cup and still control their own destiny in the league and Europe.