#1 Valverde's formation and tactics did not do the trick
After Luis Suarez got injured against Levante on Saturday, Valverde had to tinker with his squad. He opted to play Messi as the central striker, with Griezmann on the left and Dembele on the right. The move did not pay off, as neither wide player had the greatest of games.
Griezmann's left foot is the strongest, and he is not comfortable playing on the right wing. More often than not, he was receiving the ball and moving towards his own goal to keep possession. Dembele, on the other hand, is comfortable on both feet, and he could have played on the left.
But Valverde did not do that, and it was to the detriment of Barcelona. When Ansu Fati came on for Dembele and Griezmann moved to the right, the side looked more balanced. Valverde should consider the same in the upcoming games when utilising Griezmann.