As reported, Barcelona lost 1-0 at home to Almería in the Spanish league. Xavi spoke angrily after the match and called the match the worst match of the season.
| Despite the defeat, Xavi’s Barcelona have a seven-point lead in the league (Photo: Getty Images) |
“We played the worst game of the season and I’m very angry about that he began Xavi after the match at a press conference. – We were not there in our heads, there is no excuse for the defeat. It was a difficult day, I take responsibility. Despite this, we still lead the league with 7 points, but I would like to apologize to our fans, why we failed.”
The coach of the Catalans also said that he felt his players were tired, so he rotated a lot. He added that they had tried everything, yet Ronald Araújo was also sent up as a striker, but they could not create clear chances.
Xavi, Gavi and Raphinha got it too Almeria against his fifth yellow card in the league, so neither of them can be there for the match against Valencia: “I complain when I shouldn’t, but that’s it, I miss a game and that’s it.”
A Barcelona leads the championship despite the defeat, the garnet-red-blues have a 7-point advantage over the draw on Saturday with Real Madrid against. The two Spanish giants will also clash this week, playing in the King’s Cup semi-finals on Thursday.
SPANISH LA LIGA
ROUND 23
Almeria–FC Barcelona 1–0 (EB Toure 24.)
| 1. FC Barcelona | 23 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 45– 8 | +37 | 59 |
| 2. Real Madrid | 23 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 47–18 | +29 | 52 |
| 3. Royal Society | 23 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 32–23 | +9 | 43 |
| 4. Atletico Madrid | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 32–18 | +14 | 42 |
| 5. Real Betis | 23 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 32–25 | +7 | 40 |
| 6. Vallecano Lightning | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 29–25 | +4 | 34 |
| 7. Athletic Bilbao | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 33–26 | +7 | 32 |
| 8. Villarreal | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 24–22 | +2 | 31 |
| 9. Mallorca | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 21–24 | –3 | 31 |
| 10. Girona | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 36–35 | +1 | 30 |
| 11. Health | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 19–21 | –2 | 30 |
| 12. Espanyol | 23 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 29–34 | –5 | 27 |
| 13. Celtic Vigo | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26–34 | –8 | 27 |
| 14. Sevilla | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 24–30 | –6 | 25 |
| 15. Almeria | 23 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 28–40 | –12 | 25 |
| 16. Cadiz | 23 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 18–35 | –17 | 25 |
| 17. Valladolid | 23 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 16–33 | –17 | 24 |
| 18. Valencia | 23 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 27–27 | 0 | 23 |
| 19.Getafe | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 19–28 | –9 | 22 |
| 20. Elche | 23 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 17–48 | –31 | 9 |
