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Girona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 34
May 4, 2024 at 5.30pm UK
Estadi Municipal de Montilivi
Barcelona logo

Girona
4 - 2
Barcelona

Dovbyk (4'), Portu (65', 75'), Gutierrez (67')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Christensen (3'), Lewandowski (45+1' pen.)
Kounde (28'), Araujo (38'), Roberto (43')

"A lack of maturity" - Xavi highly critical of Barcelona display against Girona

© Reuters
Barcelona head coach Xavi criticises his side for their 4-2 loss at Girona, with the result handing Real Madrid the La Liga title.

Barcelona head coach Xavi has heavily criticised his side for their performance in Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Catalan rivals Girona in Spain's top flight.

Blaugrana entered the match knowing that they needed to win to remain in the La Liga title race, as leaders Real Madrid had beaten Cadiz 3-0 earlier in the afternoon.

Xavi's side led 1-0 and 2-1 against Girona but were ultimately beaten 4-2, with the result handing the championship to Real Madrid with four games to spare.

Barcelona have also now dropped to third spot in the table, one point behind Girona, and it proved to be a third defeat in the team's last four matches in all competitions.

Xavi said that the defeat showed "a lack of maturity", with the club's legendary former midfielder showing his frustration following the full-time whistle.

Barcelona players celebrate after Andreas Christensen scores their first goal on May 4, 2024© Reuters

Barcelona are now battling for second spot with Girona

"It is hard to explain this. This is the summary of our season, we gifted them the match," Marca quoted Xavi as saying after the Catalan derby.

"We dominated the game, and we had it under control. We could not score a third goal and then we gifted three.

"This match shows a lack of competitiveness, a lack of maturity, and individual errors that should not happen at this level.

"Last season we reduced our individual errors, but this season we doubled them. They scored two goals in two minutes because of our mistakes.

"Michel told me he could not believe how they won today. We gift the matches to our opponents. It happened twice vs Madrid, now against Girona. Even against Paris (Paris Saint-Germain)."

Girona's Portu celebrates scoring their second goal on May 4, 2024© Reuters

Xavi sends congratulations to Real Madrid

Xavi also congratulated Real Madrid on their title success, with the capital outfit proving to be comfortably the best side in Spain's top flight during the 2023-24 campaign.

"Real Madrid won the most points, so yes. Congratulations to them," he added.

Barcelona now have league matches to come against Real Sociedad, Almeria, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla to finish their 2023-24 campaign.

Xavi had been due to stand down as head coach this summer, with the 44-year-old announcing in January that he would be leaving at the end of the campaign.

However, it was recently announced that Xavi would now be staying heading into next season, and the club are currently planning for what is expected to be a busy transfer window both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

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How you voted: Girona vs Barcelona

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Draw
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Barcelona
46.0%
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Manchester United co owner Jim Ratcliffe is seen in the stands before the match on January 14, 2024
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid36296183226193
2Barcelona36247574433179
3GironaGirona36236775453075
4Atletico MadridAtletico36234967392873
5Athletic Bilbao361711858372162
6Real Sociedad361512949371257
7Real BetisBetis36141484843556
8Villarreal36149136060051
9Valencia36139143740-348
10Getafe361013134151-1043
11AlavesAlaves36119163445-1142
12Sevilla361011154750-341
13Osasuna36118174054-1441
14Las PalmasLas Palmas36108183246-1438
15Rayo Vallecano36814142944-1538
16Celta Vigo36910174254-1237
17Mallorca36715142941-1236
18CadizCadiz36614162549-2432
RGranada3649233770-3321
RAlmeria36211233572-3717


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