RONALD KOEMAN’S Barcelona reign hit a new low as sub Alvaro Negredo took just 44 SECONDS to clinch a historic win for promoted Cadiz.
Ex-Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo punished a night of shocking Barca defending to leave the Spanish giants 12 points off LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid.
Cadiz mob matchwinner Alvaro Negredo after he lifted them to fifth and dumped Barcelona 12 points behind leaders Atletico MadridCredit: EPA
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman is under mounting pressure after Cadiz ended his side’s mini-revival of six wins in seven gamesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Alvaro Negredo could hardly believe his luck as he pounced for a 62nd-minute winner against Barca, straight after he came on for CadizCredit: Reuters
Under-fire Koeman played for Barcelona the last time Cadiz beat them – in 1991.
And the manner of this 2-1 defeat ripped away what had seemed a mini-revival of six wins in seven games.
To make the evening worse, fierce rivals Real Madrid ended a three-match winless run in LaLiga – an own goal from Sevilla keeper Yassine Bounou lifting them six points above Koeman’s men.
Barca have won all five of their Champions League group matches but Lionel Messi and Co are just seventh in the top flight, with four losses in ten games.
And Barca midfield anchorman Sergio Busquets, 32, admitted: “It’s a lot of defeats so it’s worrying.
“It’s true that there is a long way to go but we keep slipping up.
“We reacted to the first goal and we had the ball and the chances but when it appeared we might get the next goal we conceded again through another mistake.”
In contrast to Barca’s plight, this victory was as good as it has ever got for Cadiz.
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi had a frustrating night as a 2-1 defeat dropped the Spanish giants to seventh place in LaLigaCredit: Reuters
Cadiz subs and staff celebrate after a famous victory over BarcelonaCredit: Reuters
They now sit four points above Barca after their first top-flight home win of any sort for 14 years.
Barcelona’s knack of conceding soft goals this season continued as Oscar Mingueza’s poor header from a corner let in former Birmingham City frontman Alvaro Gimenez for an eighth-minute opener.
Messi finally sparked a leveller 12 minutes after the break, squirming free to tee up Jordi Alba for a cross that Pedro Alcala put into his own net.
But more ridiculous rearguard antics promptly sunk Barca.
Clement Lenglet failed spectacularly to control a dodgy throw to him from Alba.
The ball spiralled off France centre-back Lenglet’s knee towards keeper Marc Andre ter Stegen – as Negredo came sniffing.
And it was Negredo who got there first to stab home, with Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong lunging in but failing to stop the 62nd-minute winner.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
