Barcelona stunned by Cadiz for second Camp Nou loss in a row

Cadiz handed Barcelona their second home loss in a row with a shock 1-0 win over the Catalans at the Camp Nou on Monday night.

Barca were booted from the Europa League on Thursday after a 3-2 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt saw them exit the competition 4-3 on aggregate. Prior to the defeat by Frankfurt, Xavi Hernandez’s side had gone unbeaten in 15 games.

 

The hosts really never got going in front of a disgruntled crowd as the first half ended scorelessly, but Cadiz took a surprising lead early in the second half when Lucas Perez scored from close range after a scramble in front of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s goal.

Barcelona pushed for the equalizer, but Cadiz stood firm and saw out the match as the hosts fell further adrift in the standings and put their chances of finishing in the Champions League places in jeopardy.

Ter Stegen saved Barca on several occasions before substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang almost snatched a point for Barcelona who has now lost two home games in a row for the first time since 2003.

It was the first loss in 16 LaLiga games for Barca, who had also won their last seven in a row, scoring 22 goals along the way.

“We had the chances, more than enough to take the three points, but we have to rise from this and think about the next games,” Xavi said. “We have to change our form as soon as possible. We have got back into the Champions League places but we have to keep going.

“It’s a very bad week for us and we need to change the dynamic as soon as possible.”

The result leaves Barca stuck on 60 points in second place after 31 games, 15 behind runaway LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, who pulled off a stunning comeback against Sevilla on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the three points were massive for Cadiz, who moved out of the relegation zone and into 16th place in the standings on 31 points.