Barcelona profited from a contentious decision, but Xavi felt they deserved to score more goals in their 2-1 win at Elche.
Xavi was left disappointed Barcelona’s victory at Elche was not more comfortable despite an ending that prompted a heated discussion with his coaching counterpart.
Barca had to come from behind in Sunday’s match to win and extend their unbeaten streak in La Liga to 11 games.
Fidel gave Elche a 44th-minute lead at the end of a first half in which Frenkie De Jong saw an effort cleared off the line and another saved by Edgar Badia.
Ferran Torres’s first league goal for Barca restored parity on the hour mark. Still, the Blaugrana needed a contentious Memphis Depay penalty to tilt the game in their favour, referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez pointing to the spot in the 82nd minute after consultation with the VAR, adjudging Antonio Barragan had handled in the area.
Shortly after, Elche was left apoplectic as the ball struck Jordi Alba on the arm in the area.
Yet the referee was unmoved despite enormous appeals for a penalty of their own.
The protests of unused substitute Javier Pastore led to his dismissal.
Xavi also caught the eye of Elche boss Francisco Rodriguez and striker Pere Milla after the final whistle.
Asked what was happening during that exchange, Xavi replied:
“Nothing, no more. So please don’t give it more importance. They are situations resulting from tension.
“Better to talk about the match and the situations of the match itself. Maximum respect for Elche and Francisco. And with Pere Milla, we even have friends in common.”
He added: “I went into the break angry because I think we didn’t deserve to lose at that moment.
“Edgar Badia has made a great game. I was upset, but I was hoping that we could win the game if we attacked better. But we should have won by more than one goal.”
The statistics reflect Xavi’s assessment. Barca’s expected goals (xG) tally of 4.2 was the fourth-highest for a team in a single LaLiga game this season. By contrast, Elche finished with an xG of 0.9.
The win took Barca third, putting pressure on top-four rivals Real Betis and Atletico Madrid ahead of their meeting at the Benito Villamarin on Sunday.
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