Barcelona 2 Deportivo la Coruna 2
Andres Iniesta branded Barcelona’s throwing away a two-goal lead against Deportivo La Coruna to drop two vital points at the Nou Camp “inexplicable”.
Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic struck either side of half-time to put the Catalans in control, but goals in quick succession from Lucas Perez and Alex Bergantinos saw the game end 2-2.
“It’s inexplicable, especially how we ended the game,” midfielder Iniesta told Canal Plus.
“We lost control of the game at the moment when we should have had the most control and we made it easy for our rivals, who were two goals down. We were 2-0 up, the game was going well and then we lost a bit of the control that we had for the entire game, and now we’ve dropped two points.”
Barcelona are now just three points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of the Primera Division, with Diego Simeone’s side facing Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, and this was their third draw in a row, following 1-1 results at Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen.
It was also Barca’s final league game before the winter break as they fly out to Japan on Sunday to contest the FIFA Club World Cup.
“These things happen, but we have to analyse the game and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” added Iniesta.
“In two weeks we’ve dropped points that have allowed our rivals to put the pressure on. Now we have to change our mindset because we’re playing for a trophy.”
Boss Luis Enrique blamed his side’s late capitulation on his decision to bring on Jeremy Mathieu and Sergio Roberto for Jordi Alba and Rakitic, with both goals coming after the substitutions were made.
“Perhaps I expected more from the substitutions and I hold myself responsible,” the coach told a press conference.
“We controlled their counter-attacks, but once they scored we started to doubt ourselves, we were penalised and they levelled. Even when you’re 2-0 up a game isn’t over. The team feel disappointed, but over a season these types of things happen and we have to accept it.”
However, the coach made it clear that he felt his side had not deserved to draw the game, adding: “Deportivo were fortunate today and they leave with a point they didn’t deserve.”
Depor coach Victor Sanchez del Amo was in positive mood after holding Barca to a 2-2 draw for the second time in seven months.
“We are delighted and I congratulate my players for their hard work and effort,” he said.
“We went behind, but it didn’t affect our team spirit. That’s the mentality I want the players to have and I’m delighted when they do it on stages as difficult as this one.”
