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Valencia logo
La Liga | Gameweek 17
Dec 16, 2023 at 8pm UK
Estadio de Mestalla
Barcelona logo

Valencia
1 - 1
Barcelona

Guillamon (70')
Perez (65')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Felix (55')
de Jong (77'), Cancelo (79')

Barcelona boss Xavi: 'Our finishing among the worst in Europe'

Barcelona boss Xavi: 'Our finishing among the worst in Europe'
© Reuters
Barcelona head coach Xavi bemoans his side's poor finishing following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Valencia in La Liga.

Barcelona head coach Xavi said that his side "have to be one of the teams with the worst finishing in Europe" following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Valencia in La Liga.

Joao Felix sent the Catalan outfit ahead in the 55th minute of the contest at Mestalla, but Hugo Guillamon levelled the scores in the 70th minute, and the points were ultimately shared in Spain's top flight.

Barcelona had 16 shots, eight of which were on target, but they were unable to score more than once, and Xavi rued his side's missed opportunities in the stalemate.

"This match pretty much summarises the season for us. We train finishing but it depends on the players' confidence," Xavi told reporters during his post-match press conference.

"We have to be one of the teams with the worst finishing in Europe. I am very frustrated today.

Barcelona's Joao Felix celebrates scoring against Atletico Madrid on December 3, 2023© Reuters

"We deserved to win, we did everything. What happened over the past weeks with regard to effectiveness was repeated.

"The dressing room is upset and they are as disappointed as I am because we played a good game, and that was enough to win."

The result has piled more pressure on Xavi, with Barcelona now without a victory in their last three matches in all competitions, two of which have been defeats.

A recent report claimed that the club's president Joan Laporta had lined up Rafael Marquez as a replacement for Xavi, with the head coach coming under increasing pressure.

Barcelona coach Xavi before the match on October 4, 2023© Reuters

However, Barcelona midfielder Pedri insisted that the team are still behind their manager following the draw at Mestalla.

"We are with the coach, we are with Xavi," Pedri told reporters after the match. "We all have to be together to turn it around - that's the only way. We are together."

Barcelona are currently third in the La Liga table, boasting 35 points from their 17 matches courtesy of a record of 10 wins, five draws and two defeats.

The reigning champions are four points behind second-placed Real Madrid and six from leaders Girona, with the top two both having games in hand on the Catalan side.

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Barcelona
81.3%
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Barcelona coach Xavi before the match on December 10, 2023
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid34276174225287
2GironaGirona34235673423174
3Barcelona34227570432773
4Atletico MadridAtletico34214963392467
5Athletic Bilbao341710755332261
6Real Sociedad341412848351354
7Real BetisBetis34131384339452
8Valencia34138133739-247
9Villarreal34129135658-245
10Getafe341013114147-643
11AlavesAlaves34118153238-641
12Sevilla341011134546-141
13Osasuna34116173751-1439
14Las PalmasLas Palmas34107173043-1337
15Celta Vigo34810164052-1234
16Rayo Vallecano34713142743-1634
17Mallorca34614142740-1332
18CadizCadiz34414162349-2626
19Granada3449213664-2821
RAlmeria34211213367-3417


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