FC Barcelona end season with dire defeat

 

Barcelona’s season ended with a whimper as Villarreal sealed a 2-0 LaLiga win at Camp Nou on Sunday.

The Catalan club’s spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League was secured earlier in May.

But manager Xavi will be disappointed his side have ended the campaign with just a solitary point from their final two games.

They went behind late in the first half through Alfonso Pedraza’s strike, before Moi Gomez sealed maximum points for Unai Emery’s men in the second half.

The result meant second-placed Barca ended the campaign a whopping 13 points behind champions Real Madrid, while Villarreal finished seventh.

Adama Traore flashed over and Ferran Torres was denied by Geronimo Rulli inside a bright opening 10 minutes for the hosts.

Barca looked the more likely to open the scoring inside the opening half hour.

But all they had to show for their dominance was a Sergio Busquets strike that flew narrowly over the crossbar.

READ ALSO:https://brandpowerng.com/coachs-medal-stolen-after-ac-milans-first-title-win-since-2011/

The inability to take advantage of their superiority was punished four minutes before the interval as Alfonso Pedraza latched onto Daniel Parejo’s pass and steered past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Villarreal doubled their advantage in the 55th minute when Gomez lashed into the roof of net after cutting out Traore’s dismal attempted clearance.

Frenkie de Jong had an effort ruled out for offside late on as Barca tried in vain to find their way back into the game.

Results and standings in 2021/2022 Spanish Primera Division after final match day fixtures on Sunday:

Friday:
Rayo Vallecano2UD Levante4
Real Madrid0Real Betis0
Saturday:
Valencia2Celta Vigo0
Sunday:
Elche3Getafe1
Osasuna0RCD Mallorca2
Alaves0Cadiz1
Granada0Espanyol0
Barcelona0Villarreal2
Sevilla1Athletic Bilbao0
Real Sociedad1Atletico Madrid2
TeamPWDLFAPts
1Real Madrid382684803186
2Barcelona3821107683873
3Atletico Madrid382189654371
4Sevilla3818164533070
5Real Betis3819811624065
6Real Sociedad38171110403762
7Villarreal38161111633759
8Athletic Bilbao38141311433655
9Valencia38111512485348
10Osasuna38121115375147
11Celta Vigo38121016434346
12Rayo Vallecano3811918395042
13Elche3811918405242
14Espanyol38101216405342
15Getafe3881515334139
16RCD Mallorca3810919366339
17Cadiz3881515355139
18Granada3881416446138
19UD Levante3881119517635
20Alaves388723316531

 

 

(dpa/NAN)