European football powerhouses are suffering

Real Madrid and Barcelona are not the only elite teams that have been struggling to rediscover their form so far this season, with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Manchester United being just some of the European football powerhouses who have suffered some worrying defeats as of late.

Carlo Ancelotti's side currently top the LaLiga Santander table along with Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad, but in the last week they drew 0-0 on home soil with Villarreal, lost 2-1 to Sheriff Tiraspol at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and were defeated 2-1 away at Espanyol.

"We are worried because it is not usual to lose two games," said Ancelotti after Sunday's game with Espanyol.

"We have to see why the team have changed their attitude in a week."

Impotent Barcelona

The Blaugrana are going through a tough moment as Ronald Koeman's has been in danger since last summer and the team are failing to deliver on the pitch.

Barcelona have lost both their last two games without scoring a single goal in their defeats 3-0 away at Benfica and 2-0 at Atletico Madrid.

They currently sit ninth in the LaLiga Santander table with one game in hand and bottom of the Champions League Group E without a single point.

"We could spend three hours playing and we would not score a goal," Pique said after the loss at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

"It is complicated, the issue is difficult. We are suffering. There is no other [option] than to continue fighting, rest and disconnect in the [international] break."

United in distress

Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Manchester United may have raised the expectations bar at the Old Trafford, but team and coach have been at the receiving end of criticism following their 1-1 draw with Everton and their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on home soil.

Despite their solid start to the season, Manchester United have been eliminated from the Carabao Cup and have failed to win in their last two Premier League fixtures.

The first defeat always hurts

More ephemeral are the issues at Bayern Munich and PSG, although the first defeat of the season always causes pain and some doubt.

The French side lost 2-0 to Stade Rennais with the attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe failing to produce a single shot on target.

Something similar happened last weekend in Germany, were reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich lost 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt despite taking the lead through Leon Goretzka.

A team in trouble

After winning nine consecutive Serie A titles from 2011 to 2020, Juventus failed to go all the way to the trophy last season when Inter became champions for the first time since 2010.

The Old Lady dismissed coach Andrea Pirlo and replaced him with Massimiliano Allegri, but are yet to rediscover their form as they currently sit seventh in the table following a slow start to the campaign.