FC Barcelona missed a good opportunity to close the gap at the top of the LaLiga standings by achieving a goalless draw on their visit to San Mamés where Athletic Club added a valuable point that brings them closer to the dream of the Champions League.
Those coached by In the table they were defeated against Mallorca (1-0).
However, That incentive was not enough for the Barça team to stay with more than just one point. against a Basque team that knew how to stand firm in its fiefdom to achieve an important result that consolidates it in fifth place in the table and brings it closer to Atlético de Madrid.
“It is a missed opportunity for everything: game, sensations, to close the gap and put ourselves second in the table. It is a day to reproach ourselves for things. “We are disappointed because we have not played the desired match.”acknowledged Xavi Hernández in the press conference after the match.
But beyond the result, FC Barcelona ended with a couple of bad news with the injuries of Frenkie de Jong and Pedri which leaves them as doubts for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Naples that will be played next Tuesday, March 12 in Montjuic.
In the case of the Dutch midfielder, it is the right ankle that was injured after stepping wrong in a jump, which is why he left the game in the 26th minute, while the Spaniard had a muscle discomfort that took him out of action at the 45th minute and with tears. in the eyes, which raises fears about the severity of the injury.
“It has been a disgrace, we will see the extent, but the injuries do not look good at all and that has affected us”commented the coach of the Catalan team who revealed that both players could miss more than one game, which complicates their presence against Naples in two weeks.
“There are two absences that will be for several games. It is a sad day because they are two decisive players. Pedri was back to being very good and Frenkie is also decisive. We will miss them, today (Sunday) we already did.”added Xavi.
In this way, FC Barcelona will now seek to turn the page to focus on its next match next weekend when it is their turn to host Javier Aguirre’s inspired Mallorca, which is coming off a round week with qualification to the final of the Copa del Rey and this Sunday to beat Girona.
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