Xavi back but Barca still blow it
EUROPEAN
Barcelona showed incoming boss Xavi it will be no fairytale return as the Nou Camp legend watched his side throw away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Celta Vigo.
The former midfielder spent 17 years in the club’s first team from 1998 to 2015, lifting 25 trophies including eight domestic titles and four Champions Leagues.
The 41-year-old joins from Qatari outfit Al Sadd after the clubs agreed on a release clause.
Last month, he set a domestic record in Qatari football by guiding his side to a 34-game unbeaten run in the league, while he won seven trophies as boss since taking charge just two years ago.
Xavi, among Barcelona’s greatest ever players, has agreed a two-anda-half-year deal to replace Ronald Koeman with his official first game in charge set to the Catalan derby on November 20.
But he was watching the clash in Galicia with a keen eye on just what he’s up against as first team coach Sergi picked the team.
For 45 minutes he was greeted with positives as Ansu Fati – forced off at half-time with a knee injury – scored the opener before ex- team- mate Sergi Busquets added a second and Memphis Depay had Barca coasting.
But a double from Iago Aspas either side of Nolito’s goal spoiled the day and left the Catalan giants languishing ninth in the table.
In the Bundesl iga, Robert Lewandowski scored his 60th goal this calendar year as champions Bayern Munich claimed a 2-1 win over Freiburg to end the visiting side’s unbeaten start to the season.
Leon Goretzka gave the Bavarians the lead before Lewandowski netted a second in the 75th minute with a finish from close range after some smart work down the left from Alphonso Davies.
Janik Haberer grabbed a goal for Freiburg in the third minute of stoppage time but Bayern held on for the win.
Borussia Dortmund fell further behind in second as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat against RB Leipzig
Christopher Nkunku gave RB the lead in 29 minutes and set up the second for Yussuf Poulsen after Marco Reus had tied the game.
In Italy, Juan Cuadrado scored in stoppage-time to give 10-man Juventus a 1- 0 win over Fiorentina