4 possible reasons behind Lionel Messi's slow goalscoring run this season

#2 Managerial switch

The playmaker has scored just one goal since Quique Setiem took charge of affairs at Camp Nou

Following two-and-half years of mediocrity in Europe - characterised by embarrassing eliminations from the Champions League under Ernesto Valverde - Barcelona finally decided to pull the plug on the former Athletic Bilbao manager - sending him packing from the Catalan capital midway through the season.

Valverde was replaced by ex-Real Betis tactician Quique Setien. The 61-year-old is gradually trying to restore the club's famous possession-based system. While Barca fans are optimistic about the Spaniard's tactics, the fact that Messi is struggling to get to his normal goalscoring form is worrying.

The Argentine has scored just one goal for the club in La Liga since Setien took charge of affairs at Camp Nou. He is currently in his worst goal drought in the Spanish top-flight since 2014, having failed to find the back of the net in his last six fixtures. The managerial switch seems to have unbalanced things in the team and had some effects on Leo.