MADRID — It was yet another lackluster performance by Barcelona, drawing jeers from the home fans upset with the team’s struggles against the only winless team in the Spanish league so far.
Some of the jeers came even after Barcelona found a way to beat last-place Almeria 3-2 on Wednesday, a much-needed hard-fought victory that ended a three-game winless streak and moved the Catalan club back to third place.
“We understand why the fans aren’t too happy, we aren’t either,” Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto said. “But we have to be more united than ever now. We need the fans behind us. Hopefully we will begin next year with the right foot.”
Roberto scored twice and Raphinha once for Barcelona, which moved three points ahead of fourth-place Atletico Madrid. The Catalan club trails Real Madrid by four points and leader Girona by six points. Madrid visits Alaves on Thursday, while Girona is at Real Betis.
Almeria is the only team yet to win a Spanish league match this season. The Saudi-owned club hasn’t won in 21 straight league games, going back to last season.
Barcelona struggled to impose itself against its minnow opponent and needed an 83rd-minute winner by Roberto to secure the home victory after twice relinquishing a lead at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuic.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 33rd and Léo Baptistão equalized in the 41st. In the second half, Roberto put the hosts ahead again in the 60th before Edgar González evened the match in the 71st after Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña collided with defender Ronald Araujo while going for a ball inside the area.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, centre, makes an attempt to score during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Almeria at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. Credit: AP/Joan Monfort
Peña, who started in place of the injured Marc-André ter Stegen, made a tough save in the 86th to help Barcelona preserve the…
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