27 days ago
GHANAsoccernet
Almeria's win takes them to 25 points, two points above the bottom three
La Liga leaders Barcelona wasted a huge chance to extend their lead at the top as they were surprisingly beaten by lowly Almeria.
With second-placed Real Madrid drawing on Saturday, Barca knew a win on Sunday would take them 10 points clear.
But El Bilal Toure's superb first-half strike settled the game to boost Almeria's hopes of avoiding relegation.
It is Barca's second big loss this week following Thursday's Europa League exit at the hands of Manchester United.
Prior to that 3-2 defeat in Manchester, they had gone unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions.
The loss to Almeria ends a seven-game winning streak in La Liga for Xavi's side.
The home side should have won by more but Leo Baptistao's strike was blocked by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Rodrigo Ely then missed a sitter from close-range, sending wide a header from a corner when he was all alone in the area.
"I'm very angry because I think we made the worst game of the season by far, mainly in the first half," Barca boss Xavi told Movistar Plus.
"We were not good and wasted a great opportunity in a match we could not afford to lose after what happened to Real Madrid.
"It was a golden opportunity today and it ended with a really bad day for us. No excuses, it was the worst showing of our side in the entire season."
Line-upsMatch StatsLive TextLine-upsAlmería
Formation 4-4-2
13Martínez21Brandáriz Movilla19Ely22Babic15Akieme12Micali Carrilho Baptistão6de la Hoz4Eguaras5Robertone16Suárez9Touré
13MartínezBooked at 87mins21Brandáriz MovillaBooked at 53mins19Ely22Babic15Akieme12Micali Carrilho BaptistãoSubstituted forde Almeida Costaat 83'minutes6de la Hoz4EguarasSubstituted forPozoat 83'minutes5RobertoneBooked at 47minsSubstituted forRamazaniat 76'minutes16SuárezSubstituted forEmbarbaat 76'minutes9TouréSubstituted forFernandes Meloat 89'minutesSubstitutes
1Mariño2Fernandes Melo7Ramazani8Portillo10Embarba11Ferreira Sousa14Marques17Pozo18Puigmal20Centelles Plaza23de Almeida Costa24MendesBarcelona
Formation 4-3-3
1ter Stegen20Roberto15Christensen24García18Alba19Kessie5Busquets21F de Jong11F Torres9Lewandowski6Gavi
1ter Stegen20RobertoSubstituted forTorreat 76'minutes15Christensen24GarcíaBooked at 35minsSubstituted forAraújoat 67'minutes18AlbaSubstituted forAlonsoat 67'minutes19KessieSubstituted forRaphinhaat 45'minutesBooked at 54mins5BusquetsSubstituted forAlarcónat 76'minutes21F de Jong11F Torres9Lewandowski6GaviBooked at 57minsSubstitutes
4Araújo13Peña Sotorres17Alonso22Raphinha23Koundé28Balde32Torre36Tenas38AlarcónReferee:Miguel Ángel Ortiz AriasAttendance:15,279Match StatsHome TeamAlmeríaAway TeamBarcelonaPossessionHome28%Away72%ShotsHome6Away13Shots on TargetHome4Away1CornersHome4Away7FoulsHome13Away11Live Text Post update
Match ends, Almeria 1, Barcelona 0.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Almeria 1, Barcelona 0.
90'+5'Post update
Offside, Almeria. Adrián Embarba tries a through ball, but Samú Costa is caught offside.
90'+5'Post update
Corner, Almeria. Conceded by Ángel Alarcón.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt saved. Adrián Embarba (Almeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by César de la Hoz with a through ball.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt missed. Ronald Araújo (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Raphinha with a headed pass.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Andreas Christensen.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt blocked. Gavi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Robert Lewandowski with a headed pass.
90'+1'Post update
Andreas Christensen (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Post update
Foul by Samú Costa (Almeria).
90'Post update
Foul by Gavi (Barcelona).
90'Post update
Samú Costa (Almeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Gavi tries a through ball, but Robert Lewandowski is caught offside.
89'Substitution
Substitution, Almeria. Kaiky replaces El Bilal Touré.
88'Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Rodrigo Ely.
87'Booking
Fernando Martínez (Almeria) is shown the yellow card.
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Ronald Araújo (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ferran Torres with a cross.
84'Post update
Attempt saved. Samú Costa (Almeria) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adrián Embarba.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Almeria. Samú Costa replaces Léo Baptistão.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Almeria. Alejandro Pozo replaces Íñigo Eguaras.
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Source: bbc.com
