Second-placed Sevilla were held to a 1-1 draw by Barcelona on Tuesday, a result that helped Real Madrid to open a five-point lead at the top of LaLiga.
Playing under heavy rain, a much-improved Barcelona desperately tried to score a second goal after Ronald Araujo drew them level with a header in the 45th minute but they were thwarted by an equally determined.
Sevilla, who were reduced to 10 men after Jules Kounde was shown a straight red card in the 64th. Sevilla went ahead after Papu Gomez latched on to a Ivan Rakitic corner kick and fired home a low strike.
Barca are seventh in standings with 28 points from 18 games, 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid.
The LaLiga giants remain in seventh spot and two points off the Champions League qualification places after their latest stalemate, with Xavi’s project enduring a mixed start since his return to the Nou Camp.
But his attempts to bring back the more possession-based, youth-centred times of old to the club slowly look to be paying off, and the manager has insisted that his blueprint is beginning to win over supporters.
He also said, however, that he would struggle to sleep, haunted by the missed opportunity to clamber back up the table.
‘It’s a bittersweet sensation,’ Xavi said post-match, via Marca. ‘I think we performed well, but obviously we have to improve.
‘We’ve earned a point, but we have to be patient. We have to insist on this model – we’re on the right track. But it’s a shame because we had them. ‘It’s difficult to take, not winning. It’s going to be hard for me to sleep. I think we should have won.
‘Sevilla are very experienced and very good tactically, but I leave here unsatisfied. But tomorrow I’ll look back and think we played well.
‘The performance, from the bench, I think was very good. I think this is the Barcelona people want.
‘The results tell all, but I think we enjoyed some good moments and the team competed very well.’
Both Barcelona and Sevilla went into the clash desperately searching for a victory, with the latter looking to put pressure on Real Madrid at the summit.
It was the hosts who took the lead on 32 minutes after a classy training ground routine, which saw Papu Gomez meet a short corner before firing into the corner.
But the visitors equalised on the stroke of half-time through Ronald Araujo, who rose highest to meet Ousmane Dembele’s delivery to divert beyond goalkeeper Bono.
Jules Kounde was shown a straight red card for throwing the ball at Jordi Alba as tempers flared, but Barcelona weren’t able to score again against the ten men. (AF/SuperSport)
