Champions League - Xavi bemoans Barca luck

Eurosport - Wed, 21 Oct 09:33:00 2009

Barcelona midfielder Xavi bemoaned the holders' "rotten luck" after they crashed to a shock 2-1 home loss to Rubin Kazan in Champions League Group F.

FOOTBALL: Champions League Liga de Campeones Xavi Hernandez Andres Iniesta Zlatan Ibrahimovic FC Barcelona Rubin Kazan / FOTO: EFE - 0

The Russian champions inflicted a first defeat on Pep Guardiola's side in Europe's top club competition in 10 matches.

Despite enjoying long periods of possession and having 13 shots on target, twice hitting the woodwork in the second half, Barca were undone by Aleksandr Ryazantsev's long-range drive and a breakaway goal from Gokdeniz Karadeniz.

"It was just absolutely rotten luck and the way the match went we did not deserve to lose," Xavi (pictured right), who captained the team with Carles Puyol on the bench, said.

"Rubin had two attacks and nothing more and have taken away a prize they did not deserve," the Spain international added.

"We played well but it makes it hard when your opponents only come to defend."

Barca remain top of Group F on goal difference after three of six matches, level on four points with Dynamo Kiev and Rubin. Internazionale are bottom on three after they were held to a 2-2 home draw by Dynamo.

Barca next face a difficult away match against Rubin in Kazan on November 4 before hosting Inter on November 24. They travel to Kiev to face Dynamo on December 9.

"It's going to be tricky but we are still top of the group and masters of our own destiny," Xavi said.

Barca's Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, who headed against a post in the fourth minute of added time, said the Catalans would stick to their philosophy of all-out attack despite Tuesday's loss.

"For me, Barca played a great match (on Tuesday) but the Russians are physically very strong," Toure said.

"We dominated the match, but dominating is not winning. We had very bad luck."

Forward Pedro said Barca had to forget the defeat and focus now on Sunday's Liga match at home to Real Zaragoza.

"When our next opponents come here we will be waiting for them with relish," he said.

Reuters

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  1. look guys u argue or nothing....barca is the european­ champion lets not forget that..and as far as eto and­ ibra...lets say ibra was wanted and eto was part of the­ deal of course ibra is better because inter didnt ask­ for eto but barca asket for ibra..at least ibra can­ give u 20 goals without messi on the team like he used­ to do for inter but eto needs ronaldinho or messi on­ the team to score 20 goal...and by the when every bady­ tks about matches when barcelona is involved they­ allways say bad things and count barca as the priority­ team to discuss,,let me tell u way because they are the­ best and we sow it last year in europe every team they­ played were defending against barcelona and manchesters­ mstake when they played in the final was that they­ started the the game attacking...go barca keep up he­ good work

    From shpetim, on Fri 23 Oct 9:14PM
  2. Of course the day will come and barca will loose one or­ two matches, no problem guys, as the expert says ppl­ like to watch football and barca still by far the best,­ even we domonated the game with 70% but we lost because­ of a bad luck, the russian were good in defence and­ they deserve to win. will see the rest. i think also­ betting to make millions and billions yesterday was­ obvious since all the 7 home matches went to the­ visitors, these days no body cares who win and who­ loose, its only money idiots, its a circle to the big­ names only, one year for barca the other for man u then­ AC milan but never to chelsea, still not a big name.

    From ziads, on Wed 21 Oct 5:23PM
  3. Boys are not so cleaver. To make more goals than the­ other team is the aim of the game!! Without a good­ goalkeeper and a working defence, it doesn't help­ if Ibra scoors every time.

    From Hostal La Mimosa, on Wed 21 Oct 5:23PM
  4. Oh how the might of Barca fall too rotten luck...­ ROFLMFAO... Such F**KING SORE losers.. Well done to­ what you call that team???? LMAO

    From jollyrodger, on Wed 21 Oct 4:05PM
  5. blyat pizdec Barca proigrala!!!!((( no ni4e!!!! Barca­ otigraetsya u v gostyah. ya nadeyus. ya veryu v eto!!!!­ Barcelona Champion!!! kto protiv? Sigem nahuy!!!!!

    From Arslanbek, on Wed 21 Oct 3:33PM
  6. football is all about goals and not possesion. Rubin­ played a better football and barca didn't.They­ should stop whining.

    From Manchild, on Wed 21 Oct 3:19PM
  7. Eto absence haunt barca

    From batsidundu, on Wed 21 Oct 2:35PM
  8. Look, I don't know what you Barcelona fans are­ complaining about Eto'o being traded for­ Ibrahimovic. Did you see the Inter Milan game­ yesterday? At least Ibrah is scoring. Eto'o­ wasn't doing anything yesterday against Dynamo­ Kyiv. They were both quality players last year and just­ need to settle in with their new clubs.

    From tottenspursfc, on Wed 21 Oct 12:51PM
  9. bunch of jealous pr**k...did u all watch the match last­ night?stupid fool...

    From eevernc, on Wed 21 Oct 12:51PM
  10. I never understand this sort of argument. If you miss­ 3­ penalties, hit the bar from 3 yards twice, miss one­ on­ one with the keeper 5 times, etc, it's not­­ "rotten luck", it's just very clumsy­­ finishing. It's not like there is some sort of­­ elusive life force that drives the ball after you hit­­ it! Grow up and play football. I guess he might have­­ been misquoted by the press or something. I hope so -­ I­ know a Xavi that is more often than not fair play.

    From Csaba, on Wed 21 Oct 12:06PM
  11. Why did he sell Eto'o?
    The sense of superiority­ prevent Guardy to see good seeds out of their color.
    Is­ Ibra better than Eto'o?

    From Sayon C, on Wed 21 Oct 11:46AM
  12. They always say: we played better, they were very­ physical, we dominated the game. Barca we need­ victories not all the moaning pls give me a break.­ Playing at home........ my doubts again about the­ mighty Barca, so beware the mighty Barca might not go­ into second round. Very trickery games coming; away to­ Reubin again uh! then at home to Inter who are at the­ bottom and then to Dynamo your chances narrowing. WE­ see how they will cope with the pressure. Atleast Ibra­ had his first CL goal......... hahahahahaha­ overrated!!!! Don't be surprise if the champions­ will not go beyond group stage very possible at this­ point. Going to the east in the heart of winter is­ always very tough for western e'pean teams

    From Dam-Tony T, on Wed 21 Oct 11:01AM
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