Barcelona’s Futsal Team Ends Year in Downturn
Barcelona’s futsal squad has hit a rough patch, missing out on their first potential trophy of the season after falling to Industrias Santa Coloma 5-2 in the Catalonia Cup final. This marks the second straight year Santa Coloma has bested Barcelona in this competition, following their earlier 1-0 victory over the Blaugrana in league play this October.
The defeat prompted strong words from veteran player Adolfo Fernández, who expressed deep disappointment in the team’s performance. Speaking to Esport3, Fernández emphasized that while the team created numerous scoring opportunities, their failure to convert them and their overall showing fell short of the club’s standards.
The loss continues a concerning trend for Barcelona, who have now dropped three of their last four matches. Their lone victory during this stretch came against second-division side AE Bellsport L’Hospitalet in the regional tournament semifinals. The team’s defensive struggles are particularly worrying, having conceded 18 goals in their last three matches against top-flight competition.
Injuries
Injuries have complicated matters for Barcelona, with captain Sergio Lozano sidelined and goalkeeper Miquel Feixas nursing an injury picked up during international duty. While new signing Khalid from Morocco has joined the squad, other players like Catella and Matheus are dealing with various ailments.
Head coach Tino Pérez acknowledged the team’s difficulties, noting that while they’re creating chances, they’re struggling to compete at the necessary level. “I take responsibility for this situation, particularly regarding the mental aspects we need to address,” Pérez stated.
Looking ahead, Barcelona faces a crucial stretch. Currently sitting third in the league, they’ll open the new year against second-placed Servigroup Peñíscola, who have emerged as one of the season’s surprise packages. The team must also prepare for their Copa del Rey round of 16 clash with Osasuna Magna and an upcoming Spanish Super Cup semifinal against defending champions Jimbee Cartagena.
Pérez remains optimistic that this defeat could serve as a catalyst for improvement, particularly with the Super Cup on the horizon. The challenge now lies in translating that hope into results on the court.
