12 Points Behind League Leaders
Wow, Barcelona’s 3-game winning streak in all competitions is over after a 2-1 loss to Cádiz. With very little creativity to break down an extremely resilient defence from Cádiz. As for Barça, their inconsistencies in the league continue.
In the first half, Barça started the game, as usual, dominating possession and trying to pass their way into the goal. Still, it became apparent and very early that they weren’t that quite focused and knew what to do. Many misplaced passes, good runs being ignored with very few shots. Barça simply could not find a way to break the Parked Bus down. The attacking players were trying to move around the final third and link up to find spaces, but there just was no space.
In the second half, Koeman made two attacking substitutions, Barça started the second half well, moving the ball better and taking more shots at goal. They managed to equalize reasonably quickly thanks to an own goal by Alcalá. But then, Clément Lenglet’s mistake in which he was unable to control a throw-in by Jordi Alba, and gave substitute Álvaro Negredo a chance to score.
Cádiz’s goalkeeper Ledesma made a few saves, and best chance for Barça was a shot by Sergiño Dest that went just wide when the American was offside. In the final 10 minutes, Barça had only two defenders and threw everything for a equalize. At that time Ledesma gave two good saves on shots by Miralem Pjanic and Antoine Griezmann.
This is how you beat a big team, and you did it!
Cádiz has a huge win, their first of the season at home. Well done to Cádiz. They fought like hell and took the two chances they had all game. This is how you beat a big team, and they did it.
Barca’s next away game is on 22nd December against Real Valladolid. But, before that they will host Juventus, Levante, Real Sociedad, and Valencia.
The worst possible start
After the defeat to Cadiz, Ronald Koeman said “It is a giant step backwards” after watching his team slip 12 points behind league leaders
Atletico Madrid. It was another poor performance from Barca, who have now lost three of their five away fixtures in La Liga in 2020-21.
He also added, “We lost due to an unexpected mistake that you cannot make. It came from not being focused. The attitude wasn’t good tonight, and not just from the defenders.”
“It’s tough to explain some of the goals that we’ve conceded. I think it might be because of a lack of concentration. We lack aggression without the ball.
“That might be why we concede. It’s not easy to explain that second goal.”
Source | Marca
Barca hadn’t begun that badly. But from Barca perspective, can anyone really see Atletico Madrid dropping 12 points and letting the 7th placed strugglers back in the race? Not happening!
Now, winning this year Champions League, which they are playing really well. And qualifying for the Champions League, picking up the Super Cup and/or Copa del Rey should be their primary focus.