Barcelona and Atletico Madrid stumbled in the Spanish league title race on Saturday, while Sevilla said enough is enough of coach Diego Alonso.
Barcelona’s 1-1 draw at Valencia makes it three straight games across all competitions without a win as Xavi Hernandez’s team struggle to find the form that won it the domestic title last season.
Atletico fared even worse and was fortunate to lose only 2-0 at an Athletic Bilbao who closed on the top-four spots with their convincing victory.
Barcelona’s stalemate at Mestalla Stadium means surprise leader Girona are six points ahead of third-placed Barcelona before they host Alaves on Monday. Real Madrid are four points clear of Barcelona before hosting Villarreal on Sunday. Atletico, despite their loss, are also just one point behind Barcelona with an extra game to play.
Joao Felix put Barcelona ahead in the 55th minute. He had to only tap in a cross by Raphinha after Frenkie de Jong played the Brazil forward clear with a precise lobbed pass with the tip of his boot.
Barcelona wasted chances to get a second goal before midfielder Hugo Guillamon pulled Valencia level in the 70th by scoring from the edge of the box after the visitors failed to clear a cross.
Coach Xavi Hernandez called the game “a fi-nal” after losing to Girona last weekend and then falling at Antwerp midweek in the Champions League — despite already qualifying for the knock out rounds.
“Any result other than taking the three points here is a blow for us,” Barcelona midfielder Pedri González said. “We played better than we did against Girona but not good enough. It is clear that we are not in a good moment. That happens over the course of a season but we need to pull out of this now.”—APP
