‘We played our worst game of the season’ – FC Barcelona handed their second defeat in La Liga

On Sunday, La Liga table toppers Barcelona suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss at Almeria and failed to take advantage of Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Atletico in the derby to increase their lead. Almeria defeated Barcelona for the first time in history, thanks to a superb first-half goal from El Bilal Toure, which handed the opponent just their second league loss of the season.

Although Xavi Hernandez’s team currently leads Real Madrid by seven points, its attitude suffered after losing to Manchester United in the Europa League last week. At the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday, Barcelona will play Madrid in the first leg of the Clasico Copa del Rey semifinal.

In an effort to win La Liga for the first time since 2019, a victory would increase their lead in the race to double digits. Madrid handed Barcelona their first league loss in October, while Almeria broke Barca’s record 13-game winning streak.

We couldn’t move the ball around: Xavi Hernandez

“I’m very angry because I think we played our worst game of the season. Above all in the first half, we couldn’t move the ball around, we lacked intensity, speed, on a day where we couldn’t mess up. We did not show the passion (we needed) to win the game. In the second half, yes, but they defended well.,” Xavi was quoted as saying on Movistar.

Xavi took a chance and changed excessively, and his team paid the price because they were already missing the injured trio of Pedri, Ousmane Dembele, and Ansu Fati. The hosts, who came into the game in the 19th minute and had only one victory in their previous eight league games, were in the lead thanks to Toure’s powerful finish. The Mali player intercepted a long ball into striker Luis Suarez’s direction, then quickly turned and pressed.

At the other end, the hosts managed to keep La Liga’s leading scorer Robert Lewandowski quiet who failed to test Almeria goalkeeper Fernando Martinez. Araujo, a defender, narrowly missed the far post with a header after being forced into an attempt by Xavi out of desperation. Adrian Embarba was denied by Ter Stegen’s superb save as Almeria fought valiantly to hold on for a historic triumph. Barcelona would recuperate in time for the cup match against Madrid, according to the goalkeeper.