Barcelona’s nightmare week concluded in more despondency on Sunday as they ceded in the 86th minute to draw 2-2 away at grappling Osasuna.
After losing at home to Real Betis last weekend and being ditched into the Europa League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Barca could only assemble a point facing Osasuna, who stood 10th and are now unsuccessful in eight league matches.
The volatility for Xavi’s squad will be increased by the manner of Osasuna’s equaliser, coming so late in the game following, Nico Gonzalez and Abde Ezzalzouli, had set them on course for conquest.
Alternatively, Chimy Avila drove into the corner to earn a draw for Osasuna that was as goodly as it was deserved. David Garcia had earlier equalized for them two minutes following Nico’s opener.
“Our young players are the positive but in general it’s negative,” stated Xavi afterwards. “The players who make the difference in the club right now are 17, 18 and 19 years old.”
“It is good for the future of the club, but it says a lot about the current situation. They are so young that they cannot be expected to perform every week. It’s a difficult situation that needs time and patience.”
Barca could have done with the uplift of morale after being knocked by Bayern again in midweek but also the points, with their imperative pursuit of La Liga’s top four (and therefore Champions League qualification) becoming increasingly cumbersome.
“We need a win, urgently,” voiced Xavi, who has now seen only two wins in his first six games in-charge.
His squad drop to eighth, five points behind Atletico Madrid and 18 adrift of Real Madrid, who defeated Atletico in a derby later on Sunday.
