Barcelona has dropped in performance, and I do not see them as a threat to Real Madrid winning the LA Liga. There are teams like Athletico Bilbao, Athletico Madrid and some other clubs that have been a very serious competitor for the title last season, and we expect them to do the same this season. However, with the current form of Real Madrid, I do not see any team that would win the title if not Real Madrid. It's like a tie round about their necks that is difficult to remove.
I agree with you because for some years now Barcelona has not even been close to win the league. Which has proven that they are not up to the task. Although they are showing wave in the last UCL competition and i expect them to do same this time.
The financial difficulties that Barcelona has been facing have definitely made them look like an ordinary team which makes me to ask, does it means now that a team with huge spending power can no longer be a contender for any title again? Sad how money has ruined football. But also should we say Barcelona decline is maybe attributed to their golden generation that just left, meaning they can’t build another elite team again.
Regardless of this situ Barcelona will be the true contender to Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. The likes of Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal, Sevilla and recently Girona cannot take the trophy away. It is usually reasons why I undermine the league sometimes and see it as a two or three house race only