Catalan media worried about Barcelona's away form

Barca lost 2-0 Saturday, but even worse than the result was the image offered by Frank Rikaard's team, an image of indolence, lethargy, apathy - and even of resignation.

 "Barcelona should never lose like they did last night," was the indignant comment on radio station Onda Rambla.

 "Of course, defeat is always possible in football. But a team wearing Barcelona's colours should always go down fighting, with pride and self-belief."

   Catalan language television channel TV-3 has called it "one of the saddest defeats in recent years, a surrender without even a fight, let alone good football."

   TV-3 went on to claim that Rijkaard's team now resemble the much criticised Real Madrid "Galacticos" team of a few years ago: over-paid, over-indulged, pampered superstars no longer prepared to roll up their sleeves and fight.

 Barca have won every game at home this season, but have picked up just six points from their six Liga away matches, statistics described as "extremely worrying" by Barcelona paper El Periodico on Sunday.

 Rival paper La Vanguardia describes Barca's performance in Getafe as "ridiculous".

 Their second defeat on the road - the first was in Villarreal - leaves Barca stuck in joint second place, level with Villarreal and Valencia, all of them one point behind leaders Real Madrid, who are at home to Mallorca on Sunday.

 Catalan sports dailies Mundo Deportivo and Sport offer a profound post-mortem on Sunday, both of them resigned to Real opening up a four-point gap by beating Mallorca.

 Mundo Deportivo carries quotations from Rijkaard admitting that "I am the problem, I don't know how to win away" and that "I will have to think of something different," alongside captain Carles Peuyol moaning that "we are now a team without solidarity."

   Sport, for its part, talks about a "humiliation" in Getafe, and claims that Barca forwards Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry were "impotent."

   Sport columnist Josep Maria Casanovas claims that "they are on the road to throwing another league away", referring to how Barca dramatically allowed Real Madrid to overtake them for the Liga title last spring.

 SMS messages sent to Sport by angry Barca fans talk about a "shameful attitude", about a "team in obvious decline" - and about the need to "change Rijkaard for a coach who can shake the team up."

DPA