Barca’s away struggles continue under Setien

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The new boss has one only once on the road in La Liga

Barcelona’s troubles away from home have been well documented this season and have not really improved since Quique Setien replaced Ernesto Valverde at the helm.

The 61-year-old has overseen six games away from home so far and has won just two, and neither of those victories were particularly convincing.

The first was a nervy 2-1 victory at UD Ibiza in the Copa del Rey where Barca needed a 94th-minute Antoine Griezmann goal to knock out the third-tier side.

Setien’s only other away win came at former side Real Betis. This was a good result for the visitors but still came with a nervy finish after reds for Nabil Fekir and Clement Lenglet.

Barca’s also found it tough going in the Champions League against Napoli. They emerged with a creditable draw but you fear for them on their next away trip if they do progress.

Defeats to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey and to Valencia and Real Madrid in La Liga suggest little progress is being made away from home. Barca failed to score in all three and conceded late goals in all of them.

Captain Lionel Messi is also suffering on the road. The GOAT may be La Liga’s top scorer this season but hasn’t found the back of the net on the road since the win over Atletico Madrid on December 1st.

Barcelona can’t just rely on their home form to deliver success and will need to improve away from home if they are to retain their title.

They have still have six games left to play away from the Camp Nou in La Liga. Up next is a trip to strugglers Real Mallorca before Barca head to Sevilla, Celta Vigo, Villarreal, Real Vallodolid and then Alaves on the final day.

It goes without saying that Setien needs time and has inherited a mess of a squad, but if he can’t improve the team’s away form and they end up trophyless he may not last the summer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com