Koundé takes the blame
©IMAGO
Hansi Flick and FC Barcelona are still waiting for their next victory in the Spanish championship. Almost two weeks after the surprising 0-1 defeat in San Sebastián, the former national coach’s team couldn’t get past a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo.
Barça continues to lead the LaLiga table with 34 points, ahead of Atlético Madrid (29) and arch-rivals Real Madrid (27). However, defending champions Real have played two fewer games and can move back into second place with a win on Sunday at CD Leganés.
Raphinha gave the Catalans the lead in the 15th minute. Former Bundesliga striker Robert Lewandowski made it 2-0 with his 15th goal of the season in the 61st minute. But shortly before the end, Vigo got back into the game with a double strike from Alfon González (84th) and Hugo Álvarez (86th) and made the draw perfect. Marc Casadó (82nd) received a yellow-red card from the guests in the final phase.
Before conceding the first goal, Barça’s Jules Koundé (26) made a serious mistake when a pass to goalkeeper Iñaki Peña (25) fell far too short. “The first goal was stupid,” complained Gavi (20) to “DAZN” (via “Barcawelt”) after the final whistle. You have to clear the ball there, but that’s football. You have to learn from it. With one man less it is difficult to get the three points. We did what we could.” The criticized Koundé admitted self-critically: We didn’t play as well as we should have and in the end we were punished. Starting with me, I didn’t have a good game. I lacked concentration. I made a very stupid mistake on a very simple move. This mistake harmed us. It was my fault we drew.”
Community All topics related to FC Barcelona Have your say now! After the disappointment, Flick harshly criticized his team and said at the press conference: “We can be honest: it was a very bad game for us. It had nothing to do with the things we normally want to see. The ball control wasn’t good and we made a lot of mistakes. It wasn’t how we normally play football. We have to talk about it and change that. Sometimes it happens that you see a team perform like that. I didn’t expect us to play so badly. But that’s the way it is, we have to get up and move on. In the end, the best thing was that we returned with a point.”
FC Barcelona: Lamine Yamal is still missing – Gavi in the starting line-up
In Vigo, Flick had to do without young star Lamine Yamal (17), who is still not fit after his syndesmosis injury to his right ankle. The Spanish international Gavi, who tore his cruciate ligament a year ago, was back in the Barça starting line-up for the first time.
