Xavi angered by Barcelona's loss to Almeria: Three talking points

Barcelona faced another blow after their second consecutive defeat in a row on Sunday against UD Almeria. It was an unexpected loss as the Catalans played against a weaker team, yet, they displayed a lacklustre and disappointing performance. El Bilal Toure scored the only goal of the match in the first half, which was enough to make Barcelona struggle throughout the game, failing to score an equalizer.

The sudden loss puts Xavi’s Barcelona under pressure, particularly after their 18-game unbeaten run. With only two domestic competitions left, this loss could jeopardize their chances of winning a title, which the administration believed was still possible. The defeat mentally and psychologically could be tough on the players, but it remains to be seen whether they can bounce back. Barça Universal lists three key talking points from Almeria's 1-0 win over Barcelona.

Xavi reportedly "extremely angry" after Barcelona’s loss to Almeria

Xavi Hernandez, the Barcelona manager, was reportedly furious with his team after their defeat to relegation-threatened side Almeria. Barcelona had an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table to ten points, but they lacked intensity and a cutting edge, leading to an unexpected loss. Xavi reportedly referred to the match as the "worst of the season," and his disappointment was evident after the game.

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Xavi was 'extremely angry' after Barcelona's loss to Almeria – report

Considering that Barcelona were coming off a defeat in the Europa League to Manchester United, Xavi had expected a strong response from his players. However, they failed to create meaningful chances against a disciplined Almeria side that held on for the win. With a crucial Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid coming up, Barcelona will need to bounce back quickly.

Key Talking Points from Barcelona's Shocking Defeat to Almeria

Barcelona's unexpected loss to UD Almeria has put them under pressure, despite their eighteen-game unbeaten streak prior to this match. Barça Universal discusses the possible reasons behind Barcelona's unexpected loss and brings up three talking points from the match.

The Lingering Effects of the Manchester United Defeat

One of the talking points highlights the impact of Barcelona's loss to Manchester United midweek, with players reportedly disappointed in themselves for letting the game slip through their hands. The loss was viewed optimistically by the administration, believing that it could help the team push for the title. However, Barcelona's lackluster performance against Almeria indicates that the team has yet to fully overcome the psychological impact of the Manchester defeat. The rotated defence and key players like Franck Kessie and Robert Lewandowski were missing in action for most of the game, raising questions about the team's game plan and focus. If the loss is a sign of a deeper mental and psychological issue, Xavi's side may be in trouble and at risk of falling into a vicious cycle.

The poor performance of the forward department

Barcelona's attacking front was nowhere near their best in their clash with Almeria. The team seemed to lack any clear plan to break through the opposition's defence in the absence of Pedri. Instead, they resorted to a crossing-based approach from the flanks, with the hope that someone would make a connection. By the 60th minute, they had already equaled their season's record for crosses in the league.

Barcelona ended up attempting a massive 47 crosses in the game, which underscores their desperation and lack of creativity. The panic strategy may have worked, but the accuracy of just nine crosses proved to be a major problem.

Of the players in the final third, only Jordi Alba and Ferran Torres were seen trying to create opportunities. Alba played a good first half, while Torres was perhaps the team's best player at full-time.

Robert Lewandowski, who has been underperforming lately, failed to register a single shot on target against Almeria. His lacklustre performance arguably derailed Barcelona's chances, with an xG of just 0.28 accumulated from his four shots off target.

A golden chance to let go

Missing the opportunity to beat a relegation-threatened Almeria side and extend their lead at the top of the table was a massive missed opportunity for Barcelona. The Blaugrana could have been ten points clear of their closest rivals, instead, they now only have a seven-point advantage over them. This means that if they fail to get back to winning ways soon, it could get very close, very quickly.

In fact, a defeat in the upcoming Clasico against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals could reduce their lead to just four points, making it a golden chance to let go.

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