Barcelona sounded every alarm after a disastrous week in which they suffered three losses against direct competitors: Paris Saint-Germain (1-2) and Chelsea (3-0) in the Champions League, plus a defeat to Real Madrid (2-1) in LaLiga. Hansi Flick’s team, which last season radiated authority and consistency, has collapsed in competitiveness at the worst possible moment in the calendar. And the rout at Stamford Bridge not only left Barça on the ropes in Europe, it also ended a historic club streak.

Beyond the scoreline, Ronald Araújo’s red card just before halftime and inconsistent performances from Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal exposed a disconnected team, far from the standards Flick set during his first year in charge.

Flick Calls for Calm, but the Team Has Lost Its Competitive Edge

Despite the heavy blow in London, Hansi Flick tried to maintain an optimistic outlook. The German coach assured that the team would show “a different version” in the coming weeks and stressed the need to recover aggression and intensity, especially against physical teams like Chelsea.

Comparisons with last season are inevitable. With the same core group, Barça dominated Spain and delivered commanding performances against European giants such as Bayern Munich (4-1) and Real Madrid (0-4). Today, however, injuries have taken a toll: recurring issues for Raphinha, Lamine Yamal’s pubalgia, Pedri’s problems and goalkeeper Joan García’s discomfort explain part of the drop in consistency.

But there is also a collective problem: defensive fragility and tactical disorder in Europe. Barça have conceded 25 goals this season, including 10 in five Champions League matches. And the most worrying sign: in five of their last eight continental fixtures, they conceded three or more goals.

The Broken Streak: 53 Matches Scoring and a Personal Record for Flick

The 3-0 loss at Stamford Bridge ended a record that once felt untouchable. Barça had scored in 53 consecutive matches, the longest streak in their history. Not since December 15, 2024 had they finished a game without finding the net. Chelsea brought that nearly year-long run to an end.

The defeat also snapped a personal milestone for the coach. Hansi Flick had never managed a Champions League match in which his team failed to score. His previous record showed 37 straight games with goals, 18 with Bayern and 19 with Barça. The loss in London ended that streak.

The numbers reveal a deeper issue: in the Champions League, Flick’s teams have conceded 34 goals in 19 matches with Barça, an average of 1.8 per game, far higher than their domestic performance.