Cadiz Impressive Again As They Beat Barcelona 2-1

SAN FRANCISCO, December 06, (THEWILL) – Barcelona may be on their way to the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League but all is not well domestically and their miserable away run continued as Cadiz claimed another big scalp with a 2-1 win on Saturday at the Estadio Ramon De Carranza.

Ronald Koeman’s side are now winless in four away games in La Liga. It is their worst such run since May 2008 and a dismal defensive mix-up gifted all three points to surprise package Cadiz.

Early in October, Cadiz peppered the Madrid goal to stun the champions, taking the lead with their seventh effort inside 16 minutes, but their sole first-half shot proved enough to be in front at the interval this time.

Centre back Oscar Mingueza went to ground in a tussle with Cadiz defender Marcos Mauro from a corner and recovered only to direct a header towards his own goal. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s save fell kindly for forward Alvaro Gimenez to slam into the net from on the goal line.

Lionel Messi started to pull the strings as Barca responded strongly. He set in motion a move that saw midfielder Philippe Coutinho fire over from an acute angle, before feeding striker Martin Braithwaite for a low shot that was diverted away by the boot of goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma.

At half time, Koeman withdrew Mingueza and Coutinho for Pedri and Ousmane Dembele. Barca still required a slice of fortune to draw level as Jordi Alba’s low cross clipped centre back Pedro Alcala – on in place of Marcos Mauro – and wrongfooted Ledesma at his near post.

All that Blaugrana’s hard work was quickly undone when Clement Lenglet failed to control a routine throw-in on the left. Alvaro Negredo charged down the ball from Ter Stegen before evading defender Frenkie de Jong’s despairing challenge to tap into the net.

Defender Sergino Dest scuffed wide from a promising position as Barca again piled on the pressure, though Ivan Alejo and Bobby Adekanye each passed up late chances to increase the margin of victory.