Xavi’s unbeaten start as Barcelona boss was end as the Catalan giants suffered a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday.
Juanmi finished a swift Betis break to send the visitors third in the table, six points behind leaders Real Madrid but having played a game more.
Xavi had won his opening two league games in charge, as well as drawing with Benfica in the Champions League.
But his side now sit seventh in La Liga, six points off the top four.
Also Read: Origi’s Dramatic Late Winner vs Wolves Sends Liverpool To Top
It was a deserved victory for Betis, who thought they had taken the lead when Juanmi flicked the ball beyond Marc-Andre ter Stegen, only to be ruled offside.
He did however get his goal in the 79th minute after Betis counter-attacked down the right and worked the ball across to the forward, who slid an effort into the corner.
Philippe Coutinho poked an early strike at goal that was saved at the near post but Barcelona struggled to open up the visitors before the break.
Second-half substitute Ousmane Dembele made a difference and curled an effort wide from distance before fizzing another across the face of goal.
But Barcelona could only muster three shots on target with one of those a Clement Lenglet header from a corner.
The hosts had a shout for a penalty when Ronald Araujo and Andres Guardado tangled in the box in added time, only for it to be deemed a foul on the Betis captain.
It meant the visitors held on for their third successive win in La Liga.
1 Comment
So this is what my beloved Barcelona has now turned into?? They can’t move on with messi, iniesta and co. Thought they have academy where they can easily bring replaced the likes of their iniesta. See Barcelona those days wey their odd dey small against any team and u are sure of giving Dem win and over 2 or even 3 but now to play Dem under 2 go dey fear you. SMH….