Despite being outplayed for the majority of the game, Barcelona emerged victorious against Real Sociedad with a 1-0 scoreline, courtesy of Ronald Araujo’s goal in the 92nd minute. The goal in question, which Araujo himself doubted would be credited, required a VAR review for confirmation. Nonetheless, this goal held significant importance as it propelled Xavi’s team to the third position in La Liga, enabling them to maintain their competitive standing alongside Girona and Real Madrid.

However, following a defeat in the El Clasico against Los Blancos, it is disconcerting to observe that Barcelona struggled to score for a significant portion of the game, relying on remarkable performances from Marc Andre Ter-Stegen to repeatedly make crucial saves. Despite the return of Robert Lewandowski to the offensive line-up, Barcelona’s offensive efforts were unproductive, as the Polish striker failed to register a single shot during the duration of the match. 

With a current deficit of four points in the title race and Atletico Madrid closely pursuing, Barcelona faces a challenging task in their bid to secure the La Liga championship for a repeat season. To do this, Barcelona must enhance its offensive performance. This analysis aims to examine the factors contributing to Barcelona’s current performance deficit.

Challenges faced in a non-familiar environment

When Barcelona departs from their interim residence due to the ongoing renovations at Camp Nou, they encounters significant setbacks. Barcelona exhibits a goal differential of plus-nine in their home encounters, but their away conflicts demonstrate a comparatively lower goal difference of plus-three. Although there has been an improvement in quality throughout La Liga, it is noteworthy that Real Madrid and Girona have achieved a considerably higher level of success, having already secured victories in five away matches during this season.

In order to secure the championship, a team must demonstrate the ability to perform at their utmost potential while playing away from their home stadium. Although Barcelona managed to avoid consequences for their subpar performance in this regard against Sociedadad, it is important to note that stronger teams in La Liga will not be as forgiving.