FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez says that the Blaugrana (Blue and Red) played better in the second half of the 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, November 25 at the Estadio de Vallecas.
Rayo Vallecano took the lead in the 39th minute through Unai Lopez and an own goal by Florian Lejeune levelled the scores for the Catalans in the 82nd minute.
De Jong played the entire duration of the game after returning from a 63 day injury spell.
In an interview with fcbarcelona.com, Xavi said it was a game of two halves.
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“It was a game of two halves,” Xavi said.
“We were dominant in the first half but weren’t aggressive enough and didn’t cause any real damage. We were better in the second half, we got deeper and managed to score a goal, but we didn’t wake up until it was practically too late.
“I was happy with the second half, but we have to be self-critical, and I’m the first one who has to be and we need to step things up a gear because that performance wasn’t good enough. We need to do what we were doing in the second half, the kind of football we’re recognized for our identity.
“That said we could have scored in the first half. But in modern football when the opposition scores in modern football, when the opposition scores first it can be very hard to get back into the game and even more so at a ground like this.”
Barcelona have only lost one match in Laliga this season. The aforementioned match was a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid on October 28 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
They are currently fourth placed in the Spanish top flight this season with 31 points after 14 matches.
The Xavi Hernandez led side will host FC Porto in a UEFA Champions League fixture on Tuesday, November 28 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
The Catalans are first in Group H of the ongoing Champions League with nine points after matchday four.
