September was a month to forget for Barcelona as they managed just one win in five games. Losing two games of the Champions league without a short on target in either.
Barcelona’s Dutch forward Memphis Depay (C) celebrates with teammates after shooting a penalty kick and scoring the opening goal during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 26, 2021. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)
Also in the league, they disappointingly dropped points against the likes of Granada and Cadiz. Their first and only game so far in October just before the international break was a 2-0 loss to defending champions, Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.
However, their fortune might just be about to change for the better after the international break with players coming back from injury and fatigued players getting needed rest as they were not involved with their Nation.
Sergio Aguero and Ousmane Dembele are back and in training and the former even made his unofficial debut in a training friendly against UD Cornella on Wednesday.
Jordi Alba and Alejandro Balde also featured in the game which ended in a 2-2 draw. Barcelona scored courtesy of Sergio Aguero and Philippe Coutinho, the later who will be very happy with the goal for his confidence.
Pedri Gonzalez was not involved with Spain so he gets to rest and will be fresh after the break. Sergio Busquests won the best player of the Nations League and Pablo Gavira was also promising representing the National team.
The only negative is the injury to Ronald Araujo but with the Uruguayan expected to miss out for up to 15 days, Ronald Koeman will be hoping he will be available in as he has been one of the club’s top performers this season.
Ansu Fati’s return last month eased some pressure around the club and having some other top players back in the ranks will also boost their chances in the coming games.
The manager will also be breathing a sigh of relief as players continue to return from injuries and he now has an improved squad, compared to what he paraded in the last month.
Barcelona host Valencia on Sunday night and a win will see them two points off Real Madrid and Atletico, who will not be involved this weekend as their games have been postponed.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
