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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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Draw
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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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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid38298187266195
2Barcelona38267579443585
3GironaGirona38256785463981
4Atletico MadridAtletico382441070432776
5Athletic Bilbao381911861372468
6Real Sociedad3816121051391260
7Real BetisBetis38141594845357
8Villarreal381411136565053
9Valencia381310154045-549
10AlavesAlaves381210163646-1046
11Osasuna38129174556-1145
12Getafe381013154254-1243
13Celta Vigo381011174657-1141
14Sevilla381011174854-641
15Mallorca38816143344-1140
16Las PalmasLas Palmas381010183347-1440
17Rayo Vallecano38814162948-1938
RCadizCadiz38615172655-2933
RAlmeria38312234375-3221
RGranada3849253879-4121


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