Barcelona have managed just one win in their last five La Liga games, and while the Catalan media generally don't need much encouragement to use the word crisis, there is certainly a cautious growing concern about their form. Manager Hansi Flick has not made many changes to suit their form.
Flick and his staff consider the main cause of their slump to be their physical freshness and a loss of competitive tension. As a result, he has tried to rotate more in the last two games, but Sport say he adjusted their training schedule on Monday to aid their recovery from that sharpness. Barcelona's squad stuck to gym work rather than normal training, hoping his side would face Borussia Dortmund better rested.
The German believes he needs his players 100% for his plans to work, something he has not seen in recent times. He wants the aggression and sharpness of the opening months back in his side. Barcelona also return from Champions League duty on Thursday instead of Wednesday evening, meaning they will be away from their families for three days as their rest and eating schedule is more important.
The Blaugrana are closing in on a place in Europe's top eight, and if they can beat Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night, they will be within reach. Flick and the club are reportedly currently prioritizing the Champions League, but this has cost them dearly in La Liga. Their draw against Real Betis means Real Madrid can take top spot if they win their match.
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