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With the club season approaching its halfway mark, title races are beginning to take shape. For some, their early and rigorous preparations in the summer are bearing fruit. For others, though, managerial merry-go-rounds, COVID-19 outbreaks and changes at the board level have stunted their progress. For some other teams, there has been a combination of both issues.
Momentum going into the Christmas period is usually crucial in any of Europe's top leagues. Factors like players' recovery rates and squad depth also come into play in these busy weeks.
One positive of the fixture congestion during this festive period is that a team can register multiple wins in a week's time, and that can reinvigorate the club. Usually one can see a few clubs begin their resurgence following the Christmas period.
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However, the negatives are much worse. Teams that are expected to do well might fall off, with players losing confidence. Results can be difficult to achieve in such a scenario, and managers often pay for that by losing their jobs.
On that note, here's a look at the five top clubs who have struggled for form so far this season.
#5 Atletico Madrid
Ever since Diego Simeone took over as Atletico Madrid manager in December 2011, the club has been on an upward trajectory. Atleti have enjoyed great success under the Argentine, winning La Liga twice, the UEFA Europa League twice and finishing as runners-up in two UEFA Champions League finals.
This season, though, they look a depleted side devoid of the character and passion that helped them stand out in the 2010s. Atletico find themselves in a respectable fourth place in La Liga so far this season. What's alarming, though, is their gap to the top. The holders are trailing by a whopping 13 points behind league leaders Real Madrid, with about half the season left to go.
The gap was ten points before the two sides met earlier this week. Real Madrid came out on top with relative ease, winning 2-0 on the night. The aftermath of the game provided an interesting stat: Atleti are now winless in ten games against Real Madrid.
Furthermore, the club struggled in the Champions League. They could only manage to scrape a second-place finish in a group comprising AC Milan, FC Porto and Liverpool. It was thanks to Milan and Porto's struggles that allowed Atletico to secure second place in the group behind Liverpool.
Luis Suarez is Atletico's top scorer in La Liga with seven goals this season, while Antoine Griezmann leads the charts in Europe with four goals. In their last 15 games across competitions, Atleti have won six, lost six and drawn three.
With half the season gone, it will be interesting to see how Diego Simeone's men navigate through the rest of their campaign.
#4 AS Roma
When Jose Mourinho was announced as outgoing manager Paulo Fonseca's replacement in May this year, few would have predicted AS Roma's topsy-turvy form. Having signed players like Tammy Abraham, Rui Patricio and Marash Kumbulla in the summer, Roma looked set to challenge for a top-four spot in Serie A.
However, as we approach the halfway mark of the season, things haven't gone as anticipated for the Romans. They currently sit sixth in Serie A with 28 points from 17 games, having won nine, drawn one and lost a woeful seven games. In their last 15 games across competitions, Roma have won seven, drawn two and lost six.
One of them was a humiliating 6-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage.
With a poor run of form, Roma now enter a tough phase to end the calendar year. They face Atalanta next, followed by Sampdoria, AC Milan and Juventus - all in the Serie A. It will be interesting to see how Mourinho's sides fare in these few games.
#3 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham are another one of Europe's top sides that has done well in the past few years. However, starting with Harry Kane's transfer drama in the summer followed by their spree of sacking and replacing managers, the club have fallen off a bit.
The club sacked Jose Mourinho in April this year, replacing him with Ryan Mason, who took charge as interim manager. The club then had a brief spell with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo in charge, but that didn't go to plan either.
They also saw one of the most long-drawn transfer sagas in recent history as captain Harry Kane tried to force a move away. He was linked with the two Manchester clubs, both desperate for a striker.
Spurs have appointed Antonio Conte to replace Nuno Santo this season, but have faced the same problems with results and consistency. To add to that, there has also been a COVID-19 outbreak at the club resulting in several of their past few games being called off or postponed.
The North Londoners currently sit seventh in the Premier League, having played three fewer games than the teams around them in the table. Striker and captain Kane has scored just one league goal this season, with concerns growing over his willingness to play for the club.
They also had a forgettable run in the UEFA Europa Conference League, sitting in third place with seven points behind Rennes (11 points) and Vitesse (10 points). Their final group game against Rennes was called off due to COVID-19 concerns.
Spurs are in a decent position in the Premier League, but will have to play several games in a congested phase in the new year. It may impact their chances of a top-four finish, but it will be interesting to see how they fare during that period.
#2 Juventus
Juventus have been one of, if not the most successful clubs in Italy in the last decade or so. Last year, Inter ended Juventus' run of nine consecutive Serie A titles, marking what now seems like the beginning of the end of the Old Lady.
Juventus are in an astonishing seventh place in the Serie A table, having won eight, drawn four and lost five of their games. While that isn't the end of the world, what seems surreal is that they have only managed to find the back of the net 23 times. Furthermore, the Bianconeri have the lowest goalscoring tally in the top half of the table. To add to the woes, Juventus have already conceded an uncharacteristic 17 goals.
Juventus drew 1-1 with Venezia in their last league game, adding to their growing list of poor results.
In their last ten games, Juventus have won six, lost three and drawn one. Their form in the Champions League was decent, though. The club sealed top spot in their group with 15 points, finishing ahead of holders Chelsea.
However, since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, Juventus have visibly struggled in front of goal. They have been linked to some big moves recently, and it remains to be seen what the Old Lady does to strengthen their roster in the winter window.
#1 Barcelona
If there is one club that has virtually disappeared from competing against the best of the best, it is Barcelona. The speed at which that has happened has left many wondering why a club of the stature and power of the Blaugrana have nosedived in such fashion.
Club legend and icon Lionel Messi left Barcelona in the summer of 2021 to sign for PSG on a free transfer. The forward made 786 appearances for the Blaugrana, scoring 672 goals and assisting 404 for his teammates. It is no secret that Barcelona are missing the Argentine big-time after he left.
Barcelona were recently knocked out of the UEFA Champions League group stage. That happened for the first time in twenty years. They will now play the Europa League knockouts for the first time since 2004, the year Messi joined the club.
Barcelona are currently eighth in La Liga, having played 16 games. They have won six, drawn six and lost four, and find themselves a staggering 18 points behind their fierce rivals Real Madrid. This is the perfect moment to bring back this famous quote from Barcelona defender Jordi Alba.
In their last 15 games, Barcelona have won five, drawn four and lost a worrisome six games. They host Elche in the La Liga next, and will hope to begin their resurgence under new manager and former player Xavi Hernandez soon.
