Pedri desperate to help Barcelona turn form around after more dropped points

Barcelona midfielder Pedri says the club must bounce back after their 1-0 defeat to Leganes at home on Sunday.

An early goal by Sergio Gonzalez in the fourth minute proved decisive as Barcelona failed to secure a win for the fifth time in their last six LaLiga matches.

During this disappointing stretch, Barcelona have managed to collect only five points from a possible 18, allowing their lead at the top of the table to slip away.

They are now tied on points with Atletico Madrid, who they face next weekend, and sit just one point ahead of Real Madrid. Both Madrid clubs still have a game in hand.

Speaking after the game, Pedri said: “It was a bad game, it’s impossible to be happy. I think we started the game half asleep. We woke up and created chances, but we didn’t have the spark we needed to get the goal.

“We have to be better in front of goal if we want to pick up points. We’re on a bad run in the league, and we have to turn it around.

“We have had a lot of games in a row, but it’s not an excuse. We have to finish with the same confidence we have shown in the Champions League.

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“If you don’t score goals in football, it’s impossible to win.”

Barcelona dominated the match after conceding early, but they were repeatedly denied by Leganes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

The Blaugrana registered over 20 shots, with Robert Lewandowski taking six of them and recording an individual expected goals (xG) figure of 1.65.

With Hansi Flick suspended, assistant coach Marcus Sorg took charge on the sidelines. S

peaking after the match, Sorg acknowledged that the young Barcelona side must adapt to the highs and lows of the season.

“In LaLiga, it’s very hard, and at the moment we struggle in the games,” Sorg said.

“Today, especially in the first 10 minutes, we didn’t focus like we normally do, or as we sometimes do in the Champions League.

“We conceded a goal and after that, the team tried everything to score. We created a lot of chances – 21, with five or six being really good ones – and that’s the problem. We have to learn from this, and the players need to get used to playing every three to four days.

“We are definitely not happy about the form now. But sometimes you have to accept that when building a team, there are ups and downs.”

Adding to Barcelona’s worries, Lamine Yamal appeared to injure his ankle in the first half but continued to play until late in the second half.

The young star is scheduled to undergo tests on Monday to determine the severity of the injury.