On December 15, 2024, FC Barcelona faced yet another setback as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Leganés during the 17th round of La Liga at the Olympic Lluís Companys Stadium. This match not only marked their fourth defeat of the season but also raised concerns about their title aspirations as rivals Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid gained ground.
Barcelona started poorly, conceding early to Leganés captain Sergio Gonzalez, who scored from a corner just four minutes in. Despite dominating possession throughout the match, with 80%, Barcelona struggled to convert chances and failed to equalize. The defeat allowed Atlético Madrid to catch up, as they secured their eleventh consecutive victory in all competitions, defeating Getafe 1-0 earlier the same day.
Pedri, Barcelona's young midfielder, reflected on the disappointment of the match: "C'était un match pourri. C'est impossible de quitter le terrain heureux aujourd'hui. Nous avons commencé le match en étant totalement endormis et c'est à ce moment-là qu'ils ont marqué. Nous devons être meilleurs devant le but si nous voulons gagner des points, nous sommes dans une mauvaise passe en championnat et nous devons renverser la situation," he told DAZN post-match.
The team's struggles are stark, considering they had begun the season strongly. After their dominant 4-0 victory against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu at the end of October, they have only managed one win from their last six Liga matches—resulting in three draws and two defeats. This downturn has seen their lead dwindle, allowing competition to intensify.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid, who have been revitalized after facing their own crisis earlier this season, capitalized on Barcelona's misfortunes. Their success against Getafe, courtesy of Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth's header, has brought them level on points with Barcelona, though they have played one match more.
On the same day as these developments, news from Real Madrid emerged indicating the return of star forward Kylian Mbappé, who had been sidelined due to injury during the Champions League. Mbappé suffered a thigh injury and missed the recent match where Madrid drew 3-3 against Rayo Vallecano. His comeback is timely as the club prepares for the final of the Intercontinental Cup against Mexican team Pachuca, set to take place this Wednesday.
Real Madrid had qualified for this final as the current UEFA Champions League holders. They will be hopeful for Mbappé's impact both for the Intercontinental clash and their upcoming fixtures, including another important match against Sevilla shortly after.
At this stage of the season, the Liga competition is heating up with Barcelona, Atlético, and Real Madrid all vying for supremacy. Barcelona's uncertain form leaves fans on edge, wondering if they can regain their early season momentum. The upcoming weeks will be pivotal as these clubs head toward the climax of the season.
With all eyes on MBappé's anticipated performance upon his return, the football world is watching closely how the dynamics of the title race will play out. Will Barcelona find their footing again, or will Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid capitalize on their rivals' lapses? The next matches promise to be thrilling as we edge closer to the conclusion of another electrifying La Liga season.
