Wednesday’s shocking defeat to Rayo Vallecano denied Barca the chance to move 14 points clear of LaLiga title rivals Real Madrid.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has offered ‘no excuses’ for his side’s 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano.
On Wednesday, Barca lost for the third time in LaLiga this season. While still 11 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the standings, they were expected to pull further by beating Rayo Vallecano.
Instead, they slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat. Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia put Vallecano in front, and while Robert Lewandowski scored late in the game, it proved too little, too late for Barcelona.
“We didn’t have a good game, we weren’t comfortable. They were very intense and aggressive and they didn’t let us play,” Xavi said after the final whistle in Madrid.
“We lacked understanding of the game, we abused long passes. There are no excuses, Rayo deserved to win. We tried with courage until the end, but they deserved the victory.
“The message to the players is that the league has not been won. It costs a lot to win this league and every game away from home is a war. This defeat weighs us down and annoys us. Today we failed and we are leaving annoyed because it was a very good opportunity.”
Barcelona next face Real Betis at Camp Nou on Saturday evening.
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about La Liga
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
