Barca crash to shock defeat to waste chance to go top
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E-mail Xinhua, February 22, 2015
FC Barcelona wasted a chance to go to the top of the BBVA Primera Liga when they crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Malaga on Saturday afternoon.
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Barcelona's Luis Suarez (R) fights for the ball against Malaga's Weligton during their Spanish First division soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona February 21, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Barca paid the price for one of their worst displays of the season as they conceded a goal on the break and then failed to create anywhere near enough chances to turn the game around in the remainder of the game.
Nobody performed for Barca, while Malaga produced a solid defensive display in which they closed down effectively and posed a considerable threat on the break.
With a vital Champions League game against Manchester City on Tuesday, Barca coach Luis Enrique made seven changes from the side which defeated Levante 5-0 a week ago.
Nevertheless it says a lot about the depth of his squad, that it still looked a powerful side on paper and with the most in form attacking trio in Spain, consisting of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar to lead the line.
Malaga took a shock lead after eight minutes following a dreadful mistake from Dani Alves who totally miss hit a back pass following a long clearance from Carlos Kameni to set up Juanmi to beat Claudio Bravo.
Immediately afterwards Rafinha saw a shot cleared off the line by Weligton as Barca looked to level before the game settled into a rhythm with Barca controlling all of the ball but Malaga looking to hit them on the break.
The Catlalans were enjoying 80 percent of possession but it was Malaga who created the best chance as Ricardo Horta sent an overhead kick straight at Bravo.
Down at the other end Iniesta should have done better with a header when set up by Messi, but could only tamely head at Kameni when well placed.
The second half saw Barca up the pace but the result didn't change as they failed to work Kameni and it wasn't until the 84th minute that Pedro got a sight of goal only to drive his shot into the side netting.
Suarez shot straight at Kameni in the closing minutes and Gerard Pique saw an effort plucked out of the sky by the Malaga keeper with the last chance of the game.
The result means that if Real Madrid win away to Elche on Sunday night they will once again move four points clear.
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