Busquets passes Iniesta
FC Barcelona has stopped its negative trend and, after two previous defeats, won a game again. The Catalans prevailed 1-0 (1-0) at Real Sociedad San Sebastián on Thursday evening. The match winner was former Dortmund professional Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with his goal in the 11th minute – for the striker it was his eleventh goal in 17 games, which brought the winter signing level with Memphis Depay as a top attacker. Barcelona had previously lost in LaLiga to relegation candidate FC Cádiz (0-1) after the Europa League in the quarter-finals against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Barça only has a theoretical chance of winning the national championship. Leaders Real Madrid are far ahead with a 15-point lead. Even one game less will not help the second in the table in the final sprint of the season to intercept the “Royal”. “Real Madrid are lucky we didn’t hit back sooner. That’s life, we came back too late. We had to work really hard to try to catch up. We knew it would be very difficult, also because of the rivals’ form. It wasn’t meant to be,” explained Dani Alves (quoted via “Barça world“).
Coach Xavi was only happy with the three points after the win. “But I’m not satisfied with the game – especially in the second half, in the first already. We didn’t have long possession in the opposing half, but that’s the plan. The first half was good, we played in the opponent’s half and created chances. But we have to improve. (…) I want us to put pressure on up front for 90 minutes, which Barça haven’t done for a few years.”
It was a special night for Sergio Busquets, who, on making his 675th appearance for the Catalans, overtook Andrés Iniesta in the club’s record player rankings and is now sole third-placed.
Busquets overtakes Iniesta: The record players of FC Barcelona
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