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‘We failed’, says Xavi as Barca fall to Shakhtar defeat

HAMBURG: Barcelona slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, spurning the chance to seal early qualification to the Champions League knock-out stages. Danylo Sikan’s dipping header in the 40th minute secured Shakhtar a famous victory as Xavi Hernandez’s flat Spanish champions failed to trouble their Ukrainian opponents. Barcelona still lead Group H ahead of Porto, second, hosting Royal Antwerp later on, with the Portuguese side able to pull alongside the Catalans on nine points with victory. “We can see we’re in a bit of a footballing rut, we have to do a reset,” said Barca coach Xavi. “We played a bad game, we have to admit it.” Xavi said his team had wasted a good chance to progress. “After two years without qualifying for the last 16, today is a missed opportunity,” he continued. “It’s the most inopportune moment.

Sevilla boss Alonso wants to avenge ‘unfair’ Arsenal loss

LONDON: Sevilla boss Diego Alonso has challenged his players to avenge their Champions League loss to Arsenal when the Spanish side meet the Gunners in a crucial Group B clash on Wednesday. Defeat for the reigning Europa League champions would leave their chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stages hanging by a slender thread. Arsenal are top of the group after their 2-1 win at Sevilla a fortnight ago, while Alonso’s men sit four points behind them in third place with three games to play. Alonso believes Sevilla deserved more from their last encounter with Arsenal and he wants his side to prove a point when they face the Premier League title chasers in north London. “We competed well, with an unfair result for me because we did more for the game,” Alonso told reporters on Tuesday. Arsenal have lost two of their three domestic games since beating Sevilla, with Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle an especially painful result given the controversial nature of the Magpies’ winner. Keen not to rile up Mikel Arteta’s side any further, Alonso was respectful of Arsenal’s quality, rating them as one of Europe’s elite clubs in Europe, “The game at a strategic and football level is complex,” Alonso said. “We are facing the fourth or fifth best team in Europe, they showed it last season, same in this one. “It puts us in difficulties, but it also put us in difficulties two weeks ago.” Sevilla will be without former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos after the defender was ruled out with a calf injury.