Xavi ‘frustrated’ by Clásico loss: Barcelona deserved to win

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández frustrated after losing on Saturday The classic 2-1 against Real Madrid in a match he felt his team deserved to win.

Ilkay Gündogan opened the scoring, but a second-half brace from Jude Bellingham, including a 92nd-minute winner, ensured Madrid took the points at the Olympic Stadium.

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The victory takes Madrid back to the top of La Liga, level on points with Girona and four clear of Barcelona, ​​who remain third.

“The summary of the match is very simple,” Xavi said in his post-match press conference.

“We had 60 very good minutes and scored a goal. Madrid had 20 good minutes and scored twice.”

Xavi switched to a back three for the match, with Ronald Araújo partnering Andreas Christensen and Iñigo Martínez in defense and João Cancelo and Alejandro Balde acting as full-backs.

Barça started well, with Gündogan on target from the start. Fermín López and Martínez then both hit the woodwork for the home side, while Kepa Arrizabalaga produced a fine save from Araújo before Madrid turned things around.

“As I said, from my point of view we dominated for 60 minutes,” added Xavi. But that’s football, if you don’t score the second… We need five or six.” [chances] score a goal. With three, they score two.

“Madrid have that in their game. We weren’t clinical enough. I think our plan worked well. Maybe I’m exaggerating, they made us suffer late, but I honestly think if anyone had to win the game, he would. be us.

“We deserved to win. We controlled Madrid well. They didn’t create much. A shot from outside the box and then [Luka] Modric doesn’t control the ball at the end and Bellingham takes the opportunity to score.”

The defeat was Barca’s first in all competitions this season and the first at their temporary home of Montjuic, where they are playing while the Camp Nou is being redeveloped.