Xavi Hernandez has recorded his first defeat as the manager of FC Barcelona on Saturday, December 4, 2021. Real Betis visited Camp Nou to play a La Liga game with the struggling giants and they stunned them with a 1-0 defeat.
During the game, FC Barcelona enjoyed 63 percent of the ball possession while Real Betis managed just 37 percent of the ball possession.
Coach Xavi’s team recorded 12 shots, three of which were on target. While Betis recorded 8 shots, two of which were on target.
Unfortunately for the home team, the most important aspect of football which is to put the ball at the back of the net did not favor Barca. Real Betis found their way to break the hearts of the home fans in the 79th minute thanks to Juanmi’s strike.
The lone goal was enough to end Xavi Hernandez‘s unbeaten run. Recall that since the Spanish tactician became the coach of the club in November, the club has not recorded a defeat. The worst the team has suffered before now was a goalless draw with Benfica in the UEFA Champions League on November 23.
Hence, the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Real Betis is seen as a reality check for Xavi who was expected to be the club’s new Pep Guardiola.
Recall that since Guardiola left Barcelona in 2012, the Spanish giants have not been able to get a coach as consistent and as successful as the Spaniard who is now the coach of Manchester City.
After the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Betis on Saturday, Xavi lamented that the visitors scored the lone goal when his players were at their best.
He described the home defeat as a harsh punishment that is difficult to take, adding that his team has to be tactically smarter.
“When we were at our best, the goal came on the counter,” said Xavi.
“You have to be more tactical. They shouldn’t catch you [off guard] on the counter.
“We knew about their transitions. We had a few good minutes. It is too harsh a punishment for the game we have played. It is a defeat that hurts. At home. We were in good form, but that’s how football is.
“We have to dominate the games more. We have to stop counters. These are situations that we have to control. It has been unfair. This is the Barcelona we want, but we have to improve. We have to be tactically smarter.”
The 1-0 defeat has taken FC Barcelona to the 7th spot on the Spanish La Liga table with 23 points in 15 games, 6 points away from 4th placed Atletico Madrid.
While the win has taken Real Betis to the third spot on the league table with 30 points in 16 games, 9 points below first placed Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, the defeat at the hands of Betis is coming less than four days to FC Barcelona’s most important UEFA Champions League group stage game which is against Bayern Munich.
Xavi and his boys need to win the Champions League game which is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. A defeat in the game could end Barca’s hope of qualifying for the next round of the tournament.
“On Wednesday there is another important match,” Xavi noted.
“We cannot afford to fail anymore. But I think the second half was good.
“At Barcelona, you constantly play ‘finals’. I don’t like to lose. We didn’t deserve it. Sometimes, you don’t deserve to win and you do it, like against Villarreal.
“And today it was the other way around. We can’t permit [conceding] goals like the one we allowed in. We have been [together for] a short time, but it is a shame.”
❝We don't deserve to lose today, but this is football.❞
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 4, 2021
— Xavi reacts to #BarçaBetis pic.twitter.com/9gKE6hfou5
