Barcelona dropped extra factors in La Liga after failing to beat Alaves on Saturday as their first sport for the reason that sacking of Ronald Koeman led to a disappointing 1-1 draw at Camp Nou. Sergio Aguero needed to be taken to hospital for checks after struggling respiration issues through the first half of the sport. Aguero was in a position to stroll off the pitch and Barca’s interim supervisor Sergi Barjuan mentioned afterwards: “I requested him and he informed me he was dizzy. I used to be informed he went to hospital. I do not know the rest.”
Gerard Pique was additionally taken off with a calf pressure and, together with Aguero, will now be a doubt for Tuesday’s crunch Champions League sport away at Dynamo Kiev.
Xavi Hernandez is anticipated to be appointed Koeman’s successor this week however with the small print of his transfer nonetheless to be agreed with Qatari aspect Al Sadd, Barca B coach Barjuan has been put in momentary cost.
But the removing of Koeman, and even the prospect of Xavi, produced no apparent uplift as an outstanding second-half strike from Memphis Depay was shortly cancelled out by an equally spectacular run and end from Alaves’ Luis Rioja.
“What I’ve to do is win over the gamers, make them imagine in themselves,” mentioned Barjuan.
After three league video games with out a win, Barcelona keep ninth, eight factors adrift of leaders Actual Madrid, who earlier defeated Elche 2-1 thanks to 2 targets from Vinicius Junior and aided by a crimson card for Elche’s Raul Guti.
Much more worrying for Barca would be the hole behind the highest 4 is 5 factors whereas attendances counsel the staff’s kind is creating a way of apathy amongst supporters, with solely 37,238 contained in the 99,000 Camp Nou.
Membership president Joan Laporta has advised Barjuan will nonetheless be in cost for the journey to Kiev, with Xavi, or the following coach, arriving in time for subsequent weekend’s sport in opposition to Celta Vigo or through the worldwide break.
Barjuan admitted on Friday that it’s “tough to vary issues in a short while” but additionally mentioned the staff’s model, a key consider Koeman’s dismissal, is “non-negotiable”.
However whereas the primary half an hour was barely extra purposeful from Barcelona, they nonetheless struggled for probabilities and the defence was overwhelmed too simply for Rioja’s equaliser.
For all of the discuss model and possession, Depay’s opener was a thunderbolt out of the blue. Jordi Alba performed inside and Depay opened up his physique earlier than curling the ball into the highest right-hand nook.
However Barca’s lead lasted lower than three minutes as Alaves equalised with one other very good purpose, Rioja dancing previous three Barca defenders, latching onto a elegant flick from Joselu, earlier than rounding Marc-Andre ter Stegen and ending.
Depay was slipped via by Gavi and Nico Gonzalez however hit the put up after which Antonio Sivera as Alaves held on for a hard-fought level.
Vinicius once more key for Madrid
Earlier, Vinicius’ sensational begin to the season continued as he scored twice in Madrid’s victory over Elche to make sure the rested Karim Benzema was not missed.
Vinicius had already given Madrid the lead when Elche’s Guti was despatched off within the 63rd minute and he added a second quickly after with an outstanding chipped end into the nook.
Madrid made life tough for themselves late on when a Casemiro mistake allowed Pere Milla to drag a purpose again however Elche’s transient hope of a comeback got here to nothing.
“We had been very sensible,” mentioned Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “After solely two days relaxation it isn’t attainable to play with depth and power.”
Benzema’s resurgence for France means Madrid not have their chief goalscorer all to themselves and after 17 video games performed already this time period, Ancelotti opted to depart the striker at residence.
It meant a shock begin for Mariano Diaz nevertheless it was Vinicius who stuffed the void, scoring his eighth and ninth targets of the season to proceed a superb run of kind.
Promoted
The 21-year-old Brazilian has lengthy been circled as one among Madrid’s most fun abilities however he has discovered a distinct degree beneath Ancelotti.
“I have not completed something,” Ancelotti mentioned. “I simply attempt to give him confidence. I’m not a magician.”
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