Barcelona’s Draw Woes Continue: Xavi Points to Missed Chances

Barcelona manager Xavi lamented his team’s lackluster finishing in the 1-1 draw against Valencia, contributing to a series of recent setbacks in the La Liga title race.

Despite Joao Felix’s opener, a drawn match extended Barca’s subpar league performance to just one win in the last four games.

Valencia’s Hugo Guillamon equalized with a remarkable strike, and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili’s six saves frustrated Barcelona at Mestalla Stadium. Xavi acknowledged the missed opportunities, emphasizing the need for better effectiveness.

Xavi expressed, “Valencia’s goal is a mistake, but our focus should be on effectiveness. We can’t afford to miss such chances. Despite controlling the game, failing to make it 2-0 is our issue this season.”

Critically assessing their season, Xavi admitted, “We might be one of the worst teams in Europe in terms of effectiveness. It happened in Mallorca, Granada, and against Girona. Scoring has been a challenge for us.”

With only 31 La Liga goals this season, Barcelona trails behind Girona, Real Madrid, Athletic Club, and Atletico Madrid in scoring. Xavi highlighted the urgency to address this concern, especially as they currently sit six points behind leaders Girona and four behind Real Madrid.

Despite having most players available, Barcelona faces a crucial period ahead. Xavi emphasized the need to avoid further slip-ups to retain the title, with their next game against Almeria before the Christmas break and a return in January against Las Palmas.