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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 coach Xavi before the match on December 10, 2023
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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