Barcelona 0-1 Málaga
- Published
Barcelona missed the chance to go top of La Liga as they suffered a shock home defeat to seventh-placed Malaga.
Juanmi scored the seventh-minute winner following a Dani Alves mistake as Barcelona's 11-match winning run ended.
A second home league defeat of the season means Barcelona stay a point behind Real Madrid.
And it was far from ideal preparation for the Catalans' visit to Manchester City next Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Barcelona had scored 42 goals during their recent winning run - with top scorer Lionel Messi contributing 10 goals in his last five league games - but could not find one to cancel out Juanmi's early strike.
Alves inadvertently created the chance with a weak backpass to goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, which the 21-year-old intercepted to take the ball around the keeper and slot into the empty net for his fifth goal of the season.
The goalscorer almost made it 2-0 on the break with a shot that was saved by Bravo, before Barcelona piled on the pressure in the second half.
But despite dominating possession they were unable to create any clear-cut chances and overhaul Real Madrid who play at Elche on Sunday.
Having drawn 0-0 in the first league meeting of the season between the sides last September, Malaga became the first team since Getafe in 2007/08 to keep Barcelona scoreless over two games.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique:
"We're used to these kind of games.
"I'd like it to be an accident but it is becoming habit, the opposition close up and we can't find a way through.
"These kind of results are sometimes a good reminder that other sides have their qualities.
"You could consider this a deserved defeat."
- Published20 February 2015
- Published21 February 2015
- Published20 February 2015
- Published20 June 2016
- Published7 June 2019