Fc Barcelona and Xavi Hernandez have a tall order to climb after been relegated to the UEFA Europa league and also losing vital points in the Spanish Laliga.
Football lovers and Fc Barca supporters are attesting to the fact that Fc Barca are struggling to maintain their composure and pace on the field with silly defensive blunders that have cost them lots on the field.
With Fc Barca out of the UEFA champions league and eighteen (18) points off from the top spot, it is unlikely for the Catalans to turn things around to challenge for the Spanish Laliga title.
The Europa League which is a tall order is yet to give Fc Barca a real test but their shot at a title for this season just got blown away against Argentine side Boca.
Fc Barcelona have played Boca Juniors a couple of times and have always come out victorious but it was a different story altogether.
The inaugural Maradona Cup hosted in Riyadh saw Fc Barcelona clash heads with Boca Juniors for what could have been a season saver in their trophy cabinet but Boca Juniors made it way too difficult.
The first half of the game ended goalless with little to no mistakes in the defensive lines of both teams, although Boca Juniors did not allow Fc Barca to have their comfort on the ball as they always have. The possession was split before the beginning of the second half.
Fc Barca came into the second half strong and with conviction which paid off in the 52nd minute as Ferran Jutgla opened the scoring for Fc Barcelona.
Their style of play changed from pressing for a second as they seemed contented with the loan goal lead. With time running out pretty quick, Xavi like all the Barca players on the field believed they were going to lay hands on the Maradona Cup but Boca Juniors bounced back and gave the Catalans a shocker.
77 minutes into the game, Exequiel Zeballos broke Catalan hearts with an equalizer which they held on to till the final whistle. The game proceeded to penalty kicks and it was now up for grabs to any team.
Unfortunately, Fc Barcelona could only net two (2) out of the four penalty kicks effected while Boca Juniors netted four (4) out of the four kicks to be crowned victors of the night
Xavi who is still trying to get his team to gel could not believe the outcome but had to accept and get back to the drawing to get his team working again.
I am a young and vibrant sports journalist from Ghana, a member of the Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana(SWAG), and working with Sports Preview Ghana and sports reporting outfit poised to bring all the latest and trending sports news around the globe.
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