Champions Barcelona beaten by drop candidates Real Valladolid


Relegation-threatened Real Valladolid defeated champions Barcelona 3-1 at home on Tuesday, securing a key victory in their battle to stay in LaLiga. 

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The victory took Valladolid up to 17th position and out of the relegation zone, with the club owned by former Real Madrid and Brazil striker Ronaldo facing Almeria and Getafe, both of whom are fighting to stay up, in their next two games.

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Barcelona, who won their 27th LaLiga title earlier this month, fell behind in the second minute when defender Andreas Christensen scored an own goal while attempting to clear a ball into the box.


Soon after, Valladolid were awarded a penalty for Eric Garcia's tackle on Gonzalo Plata, which Cyle Larin converted before Plata made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute, with the goal awarded following a VAR examination for potential offside.


Despite having already won the title for the first time since 2019, Raphinha was unsatisfied with his team's performance and requested that the remaining games of the season be played at a better level.


"This can't happen unless something is taken away from Valladolid," Raphinha stated. "We lacked a lot tonight, I'd say most notably character." We need to make a change because we still have two games left. We must represent the club in the remaining games. 



Raphinha expressed his support for Vinicius Junior, his Brazilian teammate who was the focus of racial insults from Valencia fans during Real Madrid's 1-0 loss at Mestalla on Sunday. Raphinha's undershirt bore the statement, which was discovered after he removed his jersey after being replaced in the second half. It said, "As long as the color of one's skin is more important than the glow of one's eyes, there will be war" and "Vini, I'm with you."


Before the game, players from both sides raised a banner with the words "racists out of football," one of the themes of an anti-racism campaign established jointly by the Spanish league, Spanish federation, and the government's top sports authority.

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Anti-racism slogans were also shown during the national and international broadcast of the game.anage to pull one back for Barcelona six minutes from time as LaLiga's top scorer lifted his tally to 23 goals this season, with manager Xavi Hernandez admitting it was hard to find the proper motivation at this point in such a long season.


"I have to understand that the players have made a huge effort this season," Xavi said. "Many were also at the World Cup midseason and it takes its toll. We have hit our targets, winning LaLiga and the Super Cup, but these games also count and we wanted to show up, which we didn't tonight.


"I don't like losing and that is two defeats in a row. On Sunday, in front of our fans, we have to get back to our best."


Earlier on Tuesday fourth-placed Real Sociedad beat Almeria 1-0 and the Basque side can secure a Champions League spot for next season on Wednesday if Villarreal, in fifth, drop points at home against Cadiz.