Barcelona's title bid falters after surprising dip in form

The team, under manager Hansi Flick, faced a gruelling schedule with five fixtures, four of which were away. Despite the challenges, expectations in the Barcelona camp were high, as strong performances would have solidified their hold on the league title.

However, reality fell far short of predictions.

Barcelona managed just one win in their four away matches, a 1-0 victory over Mallorca, but dropped critical points in visits to Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, and Real Betis. Adding to their woes, they suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat against Las Palmas at the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys.

Until then, the Catalan side had maintained an impeccable home record in both domestic and European competitions. This disastrous run resulted in Barcelona surrendering 10 points in just one month, a collapse that has reignited the title race.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, both in strong form, have capitalised on Barcelona's slump.

If Real Madrid win their game in hand against Valencia, they will leapfrog Barcelona to claim top spot, a scenario unthinkable just weeks ago, particularly after Barcelona's emphatic 4-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier in the season.

Despite the setback, Barcelona's upcoming fixtures offer a glimmer of hope. The Catalan club requested an away-heavy schedule at the start of the campaign due to ongoing renovations at Camp Nou. 

Now, they will play 13 of their remaining 21 matches at home, significantly reducing travel and potentially restoring stability.

For Barcelona, rediscovering their early-season form is paramount. While the home advantage could prove decisive, the team must shake off their poor performances to reclaim control in a now fiercely contested title race.

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