Staff Reporter.
Valencia fought back to snatch a 1-1 draw at home against Barcelona in their LaLiga clash on Saturday — a result that will do nothing to ease the pressure on Xavi Hernandez’s side, winless in their last three games in all competitions.
They seemed on course to do so positively when Joao Felix turned in Raphinha’s cross from close range.
However, Hugo Guillamon equalised with a beautiful strike into the top corner to earn a point for Valencia.
The visitors had the better chances to win the game late on, but they found Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in excellent form.
He first denied substitute Ferran Torres before then keeping out a close-range effort from Raphinha, whose follow-up was then superbly blocked on the line by Yarek Gasiorowski.
“In football, when you waste so many opportunities, these things happen. We deserved to win. We played very well and did what we needed to do to win the game,” a frustrated Xavi told Movistar Plus.
“We have to be much more convincing in the opponent’s area. I think we gave away two points. We took a point that leaves us very unsatisfied.”
Barça are third in the LaLiga standings on 35 points, four behind second-placed Real Madrid and six from leaders Girona, both with a game in hand.
Meanwhile Spanish club Sevilla have sacked head coach Diego Alonso just nine weeks after his appointment.
Alonso was Sevilla’s fourth manager since October last year and leaves them 16th in La Liga after three defeats and five draws in his eight league games in charge.