Barca cools in January

The FC Barcelona has chained two games without a win for the first time in the entire course. The year 2013 began in an excellent taking the Barcelona derby by a resounding 4-0 which was followed by a win in Malaga (1-3) where the Blaugrana showed what is possibly the best version so far this season.

However, just days later, on the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa, Málaga itself soured the night making a tie late in the Camp Nou (2-2). The Andalusians went ahead with a goal of Iturra who took a double error and Thiago Pinto to steal the ball on the edge of the area that he himself was responsible for sending to the network. Local reaction came quickly, thanks to a great play by Messi, theft included Welington portfolio, and a headed goal from Puyol after an incredible foreshortened neck, all in just a minute.

However, the club was not able to kill when he had the chance, especially on the feet of Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean still refused to face the goal, testing the patience of the Camp Nou, who fired him with more whistles than applause when it was replaced. Manuel Pellegrini's team did not lose the game face and, at the end of the meeting, to one minute left, Camacho took advantage of a mistake multiple brands to shoot at goal after a corner kick.

The draw puts the final two hands tie in Malaga, which will start the second leg at La Rosaleda with a result that would be classified for semfinales. Barca are obliged to win there or at least achieve a draw to three goals or more, unless you want to bust out the first change (the qualifiers with Alavés and Cordoba were mandatory).

Back in the league competition, the team of Tito Vilanova reaped the first defeat of course losing to Real Sociedad 3-2, chaining and two bad results in one week very lively in media: first, with news of the signing Pep Guardiola by Bayern Munich and after the announcement of the non-renewal of Victor Valdes when his contract ends in June 2014.

The game started sailing for the blaugrana. Messi (6th minute) and Pedro (in 25) put a 0-2 on the scoreboard that most teams would have fallen like a stone, feeling compelled to focus on minimizing damage and avoid a win more. But the Royal Philippe Montanier, who rose quickly from two strokes and refused to give up. Thus, the stroke of half managed to reduce the gap with a goal of Castro Chory, a resilience that had already shown a day earlier when he tied to Depor in the dying seconds of the half.

Barca complicated life shortly after starting the second half with an expulsion of Pique that could be tough but, of course, within the limits established this year by the arbitration committee. In fact, following this line, could also lose Iniesta for a second yellow card the referee chose to ignore. With ten players on the field, the club was lost. The 4-3-2 that introducing Vilanova mounted in the field by Fabregas Mascherano not work. The midfield txuri-urdin annulled Xavi and Barca played the last half hour without a compass.

The settlement does not match Barca when he had occasion (two shots in the bottom) and found a Royal really believed that he could overcome. The Chory contend tied it in the 63rd minute and made ​​it 3-2 off the end with a great goal from Agirretxe, who took advantage of a mistake on the brand of Mascherano (who had "collaborated" on the second shot deflecting Chory ).

The defeat in Anoeta was totally deserved. Repeated the same mistakes against Malaga: not knowing close the match and lose a lot of tension for the second time. Perhaps no missing Piqué in their complaint twittera reasons but what makes no sense is another new Xavi lamented the state of the field. As usual they lose away from Camp Nou, Barca vice-captain had something to say about the grass. This time it was "very soft." What does Xavi? What all fields reproduce the table as you like to feel at home? Excuses sore loser, even more unfortunate as a champion Xavi Hernandez.

Barca needs to react quickly. On Thursday visit again La Rosaleda with the obligation to win (or draw with more than two goals) to flip the tie. Come to Malaga without Tito Vilanova, who will miss a few days to travel to New York for treatment of his illness. With practically won the league (for many wet dreams after having some match their first loss of the season with an exhibition of Madrid in Valencia ), a Cup elimination would not fall at all well at Barça.