Barcelona are set to face Atletico Madrid in a crucial La Liga clash on Sunday, following an impressive 17-game unbeaten run that has seen them reclaim the top spot in the league.
Barcelona’s poor performances in November and December, including a defeat to Atletico that dropped them from first place, led to a tough period. However, since that loss at home to Diego Simeone’s side, the Catalans have turned things around dramatically, winning 14 out of their last 17 games across all competitions, drawing three.
With Atletico in third, Barcelona now sit at the top of La Liga, level on points with Real Madrid but ahead on goal difference. The team’s remarkable resurgence has been bolstered by a strong start to 2025 and a recent 4-1 aggregate win over Benfica, securing their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“Nobody cares about the past when you lose a match. It’s a good thing to always focus on the next one, and give everything for the team,” said Barcelona manager Hansi Flick after their win over Benfica. “I love this mentality, and at the moment, it’s a great atmosphere within the squad.”
Several factors have contributed to Barcelona’s recovery. The addition of Wojciech Szczesny as first-choice goalkeeper and Frenkie de Jong’s resurgence in midfield have provided the team with more stability at the back and creativity in attack. Szczesny has kept eight clean sheets in 15 appearances, while De Jong appears to have regained his confidence after a difficult period.
The winter break helped the team physically and mentally reset, and Barcelona have benefited from a fresher squad. Flick has also emphasised the importance of squad depth, with key players like Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Ferran Torres, and Gavi contributing regularly, even if they are not always in the starting lineup.
“To win the league, we need a lot of players, not just 11 or 12, but a strong bench too,” said Araujo. “The coach is managing that very well. Everyone comes on with confidence, they are happy and know they can help the team.”
After conceding late goals in both their December league defeat and the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, Barcelona will be eager to avoid similar slip-ups as they look to strike a decisive blow in the title race against Atletico.
