‘Sometimes slumps arrive at the worst moment’ - Barcelona rocked

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique fears his side's shock elimination from the Champions League could disturb their bid to retain the La Liga title as they host Valencia on Sunday looking for a first win in four league games.

Successive defeats to Real Madrid and Real Sociedad have cut Barca's lead at the top of the table to from nine points to three, allowing second placed Atletico and Real, further four points behind, back into the title race.

Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Atletico sent Champions League holders Barcelona tumbling out of the competition they were favourites to retain, and Pique admitted doubt had started to seep into his team mates’ minds.

“I’m not going to deny that it’s been a very tough blow that we didn’t expect,” he said.

“We have to lift ourselves up, now’s the time, because we’re playing for La Liga and the King’s Cup and they are two great competitions we want to win.”

Pique’s pessimism contrasted with his positive and defiant responses after the defeats to Madrid and Real Sociedad, when he reaffirmed his belief Barca would still win the league.

“We are keen to bounce back and feel strong, but sometimes slumps arrive at the worst moment,” he added.

Barca are boosted by the return of top scorer Luis Suarez from suspension, but midfielder Arda Turan is banned for picking up five bookings, and Jeremy Mathieu, Sandro Ramirez and Thomas Vermaelen are injured.

Valencia are 14th in La Liga on 37 points. They moved further away from the relegation zone after beating Sevilla 2-1 to earn a first win in five matches in coach Pako Ayesteran’s first home game in charge since succeeding Gary Neville.

It is Valencia’s first trip back to the Nou Camp since they were thrashed 7-0 by Barca in a harrowing King’s Cup semi-final first leg in February.

Second placed Atletico are back at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday to host struggling Granada, who are 17th and two points above the relegation zone, having drawn their last four games.

Atletico defender Filipe Luis is suspended, as is Granada forward Isaac Success.

Third placed Real Madrid face a local derby at struggling Getafe after La Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Wolfsburg to seal their place in the Champions League semi-finals.

Juan Eduardo Esnaider will take charge of Getafe for the first time since succeeding Fran Escriba, who was sacked on Monday following a 10th defeat in 12 games, leaving the team 19th in the table and two points from exiting the relegation zone.

Reaction

Out-of-sorts Barcelona have been accused of having no “plan B” following their Champions League elimination by Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.

The European champions will not defend their title in Milan on May 28th after suffering a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Atletico - and after watching Antoine Griezmann’s brace carry Atletico into the last four, the world press have accused head coach Luis Enrique and his players of lacking a back-up plan when things go awry.

“They have a coach without a plan B and are lacking the magic of a messiah,” read damning analysis in El Mundo. “The poor embraced faith to scatter the rich, Barca, who collapsed at the Calderon.”

Brazilian website Globoesporte said the Catalans “put a lot of balls into the area, but offered very little creatively”.

Argentinian daily Ole claimed Atleti’s triumph was “more than deserved” and criticised their own home-grown striker Lionel Messi for not knowing “how to deal with the home team”.

Simeone’s Atletico side drew high praise, both in Spain and abroad, for “attacking Barcelona’s jugular”.

“What belief. What emotion,” said Marca. “Atletico Madrid have made history by knocking out the European champions.”

El Pais wrote: “Atletico indisputable, Barca depressed. This is Atletico’s moment. Somehow, El Cholo (Simeone) has become to Atletico what Johan Cruyff was to Barcelona.

“Barca’s football has regressed over the last few weeks. Barca would have never imagined dropping out of the European Cup until being beaten by (Real) Madrid in El Clasico.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport of Italy labelled the result as “the fall of gods”.

It wrote: “A great night for Simeone, who was able to celebrate after suffering seven defeats to Barca in the league and Copa del Rey, but a bitter night for Messi and company.”

Catalan publication Mundo Deportivo said “a Barcelona without recourse have tumbled out of the Champions League.

“They did nothing in those final minutes to show they were aspiring to win another treble.

“Not a good night for Barca fans’ hearts, as their team were on the brink and fighting an uphill battle for most of the game.”

Diario Sport were among the few voices claiming Luis Enrique’s men had been hard done by, writing: “It should not be this way.

“When everything looked to have been decided, then came the scandal. (Referee Nicola) Rizzoli did not award a penalty for what looked like a clear handball from Gabi.”

In France there were plaudits for Griezmann, who struck in the 36th minute before converting a penalty with two minutes remaining at the Vicente Calderon.

L’Equipe said of the playmaker from Burgundy: “This is the year of confirmation for Atletico, Griezmann is the leader of a great club.”

The Guardian’s Sid Lowe had the final word.

“The slogan that hung from bridges and balconies all over Madrid read ”Never stop believing“ and Atletico never did, even when they might have feared it would be taken from them in the final minute.”