Has Barca's Bubble Burst?

It has to be said that Barca's magnificent season has hit the skids rather dramatically in the last couple of days or so.

A 2-0 loss at the San Siro to AC Milan in the Champions League was followed less than a week later by a 3-1 drubbing at home to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

Yes, they beat Sevilla 2-1 at home in the league in between those games but they weren't exactly convincing in that game, having to come from being behind to win to keep their massive lead on top of La Liga.

So what has suddenly gone so wrong for the so-called greatest football team in the world?

The answer is what has suddenly gone so right for two of their toughest opponents.

If ever there was an answer to stopping the tikka-takka football - and Wellington Phoenix owners Gareth and Rob Morgan should take note - it is by parking the bus and playing a quick, effective counter attacking game right from the kickoff.

This is what AC Milan and Real Madrid did so effectively - and to a certain extent, Chelsea last season. They soaked up the pressure Barca imposed so early on by filling the spaces in midfield so well, getting Barca to commit more players to counter the numbers in midfield, and then getting the ball up to the opposition end so quickly when they got the ball. Whether it's El-Sharawy, Ronaldo or Juan Mata, they all had a pacy winger to run at defences, bamboozling them while support quickly rumbled up.

Football is a vicious cycle and one where teams attempt to counter each other with answers. Right now, I think it appears the more defensive sides have got a slight upper hand on more attacking sides in the do-or-die cup games.

However, in the league where sides need to be a bit more positive to get a point or 3 to go up the table, sides need to be a bit more positive, and this is where Barcelona are still number one and probably will still win the league.

Nevertheless, the loss to Real Madrid will certainly send shockwaves through Catalonia and with the two set to meet again this weekend at the Bernabeu, who's to say that another loss to their great rivals could trigger a quite monumental collapse by the Catalans?

Unlikely perhaps given Real still must overhaul their potential city rivals and opponents in the Copa del Rey final - Atletico Madrid - on the league table too. Nevertheless, it has made things a bit more interesting in Spain.