Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has reacted to the Champions League match against Bayern Munich on September 13, 2022, that ended in a 2-0 loss, saying his team didn’t deserve the defeat.
Xavi believes that Barcelona played very well and could have won the match, but they were not clinical enough. Lewandowski and Pedri came close to scoring.
The manager said he was pleased with their performance in the first half when they had the most possession.
Barcelona should have gotten their second three points in the Champions League group stage after beating Viktoria Plzen on Matchday 1.
In addition, the manager criticized his team’s inability to score goals when needed as they squandered all their goalscoring opportunities, especially in the first half.
Bayern Munich had dominated the Spanish giants in the previous season. In the 2020/21 season, Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona by eight goals to two. In the 2021/22 season, they played Barcelona home and away, with three goals each in those encounters.
With the recent victory, it is now an aggregate of 16-2 in the last four Champions League games involving the two teams.
Bayern Munich inflicted Barcelona’s first defeat of the season. Bayern Munich scored two goals in the second half to move ahead of Barcelona in the group match.
The German side sit on top of the group with six points from two matches, followed by Barcelona with three points from two matches.
Inter Milan are on level terms with Barcelona with three points from two matches. Viktoria Plzen are currently in last place and have a higher chance of dropping out of the tournament.
What next for Barcelona and Bayern Munich?
Barcelona, who are currently second in La Liga, will host Elche on September 17, 2022.
They have performed well against mid-table teams, and the game is expected to be one-sided, with Barcelona being heavily favored.
A win would see Xavi’s side move to the top of the table until Real Madrid play on September 18, 2022, against Atletico Madrid.
Bayern Munich will travel to Augsburg on September 17, 2022, in a quest to defend their Bundesliga title this season. The German side currently sit in the 3rd position.
Their form in the league had been bad, but the win over Barcelona could boost their morale, self confidence and make them return to the top of the table.
How should Xavi approach the remaining Champions League matches ?
They need to bring in a better defender for the team. Alonso and Christensen are not capable of stopping strikers. Kessie should always start at the heart of Barcelona’s defensive midfield.
Barcelona’s next match in the Champions League against Inter Milan is a tricky one.
Inter Milan is likely to counter-attack the Spanish giant, giving Barcelona the majority of ball possession.
Inter Milan have a high chance of beating FC Barcelona in front of their home fans at San Siro but that could happen the other way round if Barca effectively take their chances.
