Ways Barcelona and Real Madrid can address their challenges this summer

With all other significant trophies now awarded or abandoned, the contest for LaLiga recommences this week as the top two teams — Barcelona and Real Madrid — regroup, reflecting on their recent disappointments and contemplating how to address their shortcomings.

Both clubs faced elimination last week at a disheartening and financially detrimental phase of the UEFA Champions League. Each suffered a regrettable loss in the crucial home leg of their quarterfinal, only to be ousted after managing to regain a position to win. Frustrating.

However, it could be argued that Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich have inadvertently provided significant insights to Madrid and Barça; exposing their vulnerabilities and clarifying what needs to be rectified.

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There was widespread acclaim for Atlético’s 3-2 aggregate victory over Barcelona and Bayern’s exhilarating 6-4 elimination of Madrid, as the quality and excitement of those encounters delivered exceptional entertainment — yet such accolades cannot be converted into trophies.

If the recent hiatus for Champions League and Copa del Rey football has diverted your attention, the Spanish league resumes on Tuesday with Madrid hosting Alavés and Barça facing Celta Vigo at Camp Nou the following night (stream all LaLiga matches on ESPN+ in the U.S.).

With seven matchdays remaining, including a Clásico at Camp Nou, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona holds a nine-point advantage and is well-positioned to achieve something Madrid has accomplished only once in the last 36 years: defend their title. The daunting reality for Los Blancos is that no team leading LaLiga has ever squandered such a substantial lead this late in the season.

Although Barcelona faces challenging away matches against Osasuna and Getafe (their least favored venue in Spain), along with a direct clash with Álvaro Arbeloa’s team on May 10, it is reasonable to assume that the reigning champions will secure the title once more.

For various reasons, both of these powerhouse clubs must initiate their internal evaluations without delay.

Barça has genuinely threatened to narrow the gap on Madrid in recent years, despite Los Blancos consistently achieving their ultimate goal of European supremacy — yet the Blaugrana have been less robust, more inconsistent, and have secured fewer trophies this season.

As for Madrid? They possess a state-of-the-art, revenue-generating stadium, their financial turnover is substantial, and they remain the prominent brand in soccer. However, they find themselves in a bit of turmoil.

play1:12Are Hansi Flick’s tactics holding Barcelona back?

Stewart Robson discusses Barcelona’s defensive strategy as Eric Garcia receives a red card against Atletico Madrid.

Let’s begin with the likely champions.

Barcelona is entertaining to watch. They excel in nurturing and developing talent from their youth academy. If managed correctly, they could be on the brink of a prosperous era.

Yet, they are still far from reaching a Champions League-winning standard.

First, there’s Robert Lewandowski. It would be unreasonable to extend his expiring contract. There is no doubt about the Poland international’s impressive statistics, trophy collection, or his status as an elite goal-scorer. However, Barcelona’s high defensive line — the 4-2-3-1 formation to which Flick appears to be bound — means that unless they press with intensity, brilliance, and consistency, they will frequently be vulnerable against proficient counterattacking teams that play through, rather than over, Barcelona.

This was evident last season against Inter Milan, has recurred at various points this campaign, and was a primary factor in the goals conceded against Atleti during their elimination from the Copa and Champions League.

At nearly 38, Lewandowski lacks the ability and desire to press and harass — the notorious defending from the front — that the German coach’s system demands. Furthermore, when Ferran Torres struggled with form, Lewandowski was unable to provide a steady stream of crucial goals. I would contend that including Lewandowski and the superfluous Marcus Rashford in the first leg against Atlético in the Champions League quarterfinal allowed their opponents to launch transition attacks at will.

A significant miscalculation. So: If Lewandowski and Rashford are not part of the squad next season, who will replace them?

Barcelona has shown interest in Julián Álvarez, but his Atlético teammate Alexander Sørloth appears to be the more astute, simpler, and less expensive option (his release clause is €35 million) and potentially a higher-yield investment. Either the Norwegian or Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen would be viable alternatives.

Meanwhile, defensively, it would be a failure if Barcelona does not provide their coach with a top-notch, quick, aggressive, left-footed, international-quality center back. Selling Frenkie de Jong to finance these two acquisitions, along with enhancing fullback competition, would be a wise move.

If they accomplish these tasks and somehow navigate LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play regulations, Barcelona can consider their summer to have been highly successful.

Given their heavy reliance on Pedri, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal, they also require a medical, physiotherapy, and fitness system that keeps these three key players in optimal condition more consistently than they have managed this season.

Madrid’s situation is considerably more intricate and less straightforward to resolve.

Assessing squad deficiencies and imbalances, and linking them to whether Arbeloa remains in charge, is somewhat futile until there is clarity regarding the club’s upper management.

I sense a distinct end-of-era feeling. Perhaps “decay” is too strong a term, but “decline” would be appropriate.

I do not believe players or staff currently exhibit the same level of trust, respect — or even fear — toward president Florentino Pérez. Everyone, regardless of who they are, eventually ages, slows down, burns out, and experiences a decline in performance. Whether it’s your star striker, your coach, or your club president, this process is unavoidable.

The most successful periods in the last quarter-century at Real Madrid have occurred when the president is energetic and motivated. It’s when his capable vice president José Ángel Sánchez serves as an excellent advisor, and when club legends — such as Pedja Mijatovic or Zinedine Zidane — are selecting talent and recommending it to the president.

At present, I am uncertain if any of these conditions hold true at Real Madrid.

Disassembling this squad and rebuilding it will not be straightforward, especially if the process is overseen by a 79-year-old president, without a director of football, and amidst a group of self-interested agents seeking substantial bonuses.

What is abundantly clear is that the loss of leadership represented by the departures of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Nacho, Lucas Vazquez, and Joselu — coupled with the determination of those in power to push Dani Carvajal out, regardless of the consequences — is detrimental.

The squad’s energy, intensity, and discipline, Madrid’s training regimen, and the determination with which their fatigued, underprepared squad is willing to confront the challenges of the upcoming season are all critical issues that need addressing. Additionally, transforming Madrid’s vulnerable fullback play, acquiring midfielders capable of controlling matches (such as Manchester City’s Rodri or Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabián Ruiz), and finding a way to ensure Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé press effectively (or consider moving one of them) are essential tasks.

Whether the new coach is Mauricio Pochettino or José Mourinho (two of the favored candidates), Madrid must align their necessary work in the transfer market with the style of play the new manager (assuming Arbeloa is held accountable) intends to implement. This is referred to as cohesive planning. Otherwise, they will commence the rebuild at a significant disadvantage.

Moreover, it is equally crucial for Barcelona that Madrid successfully navigates this challenging array of tasks.

Currently, the Camp Nou club is on the rise, but are they perhaps becoming complacent? Feeling as though they have a greater margin for error and relaxation because they do not perceive their primary rivals as adequately regaining their competitive edge?

Unforeseen circumstances can occur.