‘We were lacking in every way v Madrid’

Xavi Hernandez; (right) Real Madrid’s Vinicius celebrates scoring against Barcelona in Riyadh on Sunday. Pic/AP, PTI

Barca coach Xavi Hernandez criticised his team for their inadequate performance in a humbling 4-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.

The Spanish champions were thrashed in Saudi Arabia by their bitter Clasico rivals and Xavi said his team gave a bad account of themselves. "We were lacking in every way and have to apologise to the fans, we did not show the level to compete in a final," Xavi told reporters. "It's a heavy defeat, as a Barca fan I'm disappointed, we put on one of our worst displays of the season. This is not the image that Barca have to show, especially in a final against Real Madrid."

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Vinicius Junior hit a first-half treble for Real Madrid, including a brace inside the first 10 minutes, with Robert Lewandowski netting for the Catalans.

Rodrygo rounded off Real Madrid's rout in the second half, while Barca defender Ronald Araujo was sent off for two bookings, both for fouls on Vinicius. "We did not stop counter-attacks and runs, we started in the worst way in a final, we were trailing for the whole game," added Xavi.

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