Barcelona suffers shock defeat at Valadolloid

Barcelona slumped to their third defeat in
seven league games as they lost away to relegation-
threatened Valladolid 1-0 on Saturday. Italian Fausto Rossi scored the only goal of the game
as he slammed home from close range after 17
minutes. Valladolid goalkeeper Diego Marino was forced into
four saves by Lionel Messi, but it was Neymar who
had the best chance to level when he ballooned over
just before the hour mark. However, the Catalans couldn’t find a way through
and could fall four points behind La Liga leaders Real
Madrid should Los Blancos beat Levante at home on
Sunday. Victory for Valladolid also has significant
consequences at the other end of the table as La
Pucela move out of the relegation zone with just their
fifth league win of the campaign. “What we lacked today is normally what distinguishes
the team; our circulation of the ball and our movement
off the ball to find space. As a consequence of that
we lacked penetration,” Barca boss Gerardo Martino
admitted.