Pedri begs ‘half-asleep’ Barcelona to ‘turn things around’

Midfielder Pedri said Barcelona needed to turn things around quickly as their alarming form continued with a shock 1-0 home defeat to Leganés on Sunday.

Sergio González’s fourth-minute goal was the difference between the two teams as Barça failed to record a win for the fifth time in their last six league games.

In this run they only got five points out of a possible 18 and their lead at the top of the table disappeared. They are now level on points with Atlético Madrid, who they host next weekend, and are one point ahead of Real Madrid, while both Madrid teams still have a game in hand.

“It was a bad game, it’s impossible to be happy,” Pedri told reporters after the loss. “I think we started the game half asleep. We woke up and created chances, but we lacked the spark we needed to score the goal.”

“We have to be better in front of goal if we want to get points. We are on a bad path in the league and have to turn things around.”

It was Leganés’ first away win in LaLiga this season, while Barça have now lost their last two games at the Olympic Stadium after losing to Las Palmas two weeks ago.

However, Barça continue to be in good form in the Champions League, having won five of six games in the competition, including 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund in midweek, and Pedri will be hoping they can showcase their European credentials in the league.

“We have played a lot of games in a row but that is no excuse, we have to finish with the same confidence as we did in the Champions League,” he added. “If you don’t score goals in football, it’s impossible to win.”

González’s early goal paved the way for a Barça attack, but they could not get past visiting goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic. The Blaugrana finished the game with over 20 shots, six of which were from Lewandowski and he alone achieved an xG of 1.65.

With Hansi Flick suspended, assistant coach Marcus Sorg filled in for the German on the touchline and he admitted Barça’s young side may have to get used to ups and downs this season.

“It is very difficult in LaLiga and at the moment we are having problems with the games,” Sorg said in a press conference. “Today, especially in the first ten minutes, we weren’t as focused as we always were or sometimes (as we were) in the Champions League.”

“We conceded a goal and after that the team tried everything to score goals. We created a lot of chances, I think 21 and five or six were really good chances and that’s the problem. We have to learn about it and the players (I have to get used to playing every three to four days.

“We are definitely not happy with the form now. But sometimes you have to accept that if you want to build a team, there will be ups and downs.”

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal injured his ankle in the first half but continued playing until the end of the second half. He will undergo tests on Monday to determine whether there is any long-term damage.

Barça hope to have him available for the final game of 2024, at home against Atlético, next weekend. The Catalan side’s poor results and Atlético’s six wins in a row mean they go into this game on points at the top of LaLiga.