Barcelona’s first defeat in La Liga this season should serve to remind people they are not invincible, coach Tito Vilanova said after their surprise 3-2 loss at Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Barca’s record-breaking start to the first half of the campaign, when they won 18 out of 19 games and only dropped two points in a 2-2 draw at home to Real Madrid, had many pundits already proclaiming them league champions.
The Catalans still have a comfortable lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid and champions Real Madrid in third place but the first doubts have arisen at the Nou Camp during the past week.
On Wednesday, Barca were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Malaga in a King’s Cup quarter-final first leg, conceding the equaliser against 10 men in the last minute.
On Friday, Barca were rocked by the news that long-standing keeper Victor Valdes had rejected contract renewal negotiations and would leave at the end of his current deal in 2014.
The defeat in San Sebastian was the first time this season they have failed to win in consecutive games since Vilanova took the helm in the close season but Pep Guardiola’s former assistant sought to play down the result’s significance.
“It was inevitable we would eventually lose a game,” he told a post-match news conference.
“It puts us in our place because there is still a long way to go in La Liga. Although everyone believes we have been winning games easily, it isn’t so. There are still a lot of difficult games ahead of us.”
Next up for Barcelona is Thursday’s King’s Cup second leg at high-flying Malaga, who have also reached the Champions League last 16, and captain Carles Puyol appealed for calm.
“There is no need to get carried away because of one defeat,” he said.
“We need to go to Malaga and win the match. We think we are playing well.”
Barca, who led 2-0 on Saturday, hit the woodwork twice and had chances to secure a win in the first half but the game turned after a red card for their defender Gerard Pique early in the second half.
Credit goes to Real Sociedad and their French coach Philippe Montanier for an aggressive and dynamic display that unsettled their illustrious visitors throughout the match.