Hansi Flick lamented another “really bad” performance as Barcelona were held to a 2-2 draw at Real Betis on Saturday, dropping points for the fourth time in five LaLiga games.
Barça twice led through Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres but a Giovani Lo Celso penalty and a 94th minute goal from Assane Diao earned Betis a share of the spoils at the Benito Villamarín.
The league leaders have now lost two, drawn two and won just one of their last five fixtures, which has seen their advantage over second place Real Madrid, who still have a game in hand after beating Girona later on Saturday, cut from nine points to two.
“It was not a good match,” Flick said in the post-game news conference. “We have a young team and we have to improve a lot. It’s what we have to do. It’s up to us, we have the quality to win every match but we also have to show that.”
Flick’s second half substitutions were also questioned after the game. With the match evenly balanced, he replaced the team’s top scorers Lewandowski and Raphinha in addition to midfielders Dani Olmo and Pedri.
The German coach admitted he did so with one eye on the midweek Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund, although he also pointed out Barça had struggled with them on the pitch, too.
“I know that, but at first we played really bad, also from the beginning,” he responded when asked about his changes. “The first situation we played good [in the game] was the Lewandowski goal [in the 39th minute].
“I think we became better also in second half [with the changes]. Of course we had to bring new legs, fresh legs, and we tried for that. We have on Wednesday a big match in the Champions League. We also have to take care about that.”
Lewandowski’s opener was cancelled out when substitute Frenkie de Jong brought down Vitor Roque, on loan at Betis from Barça, in the box, with Lo Celso dispatching the subsequent penalty.
The spot kick was only given after a lengthy VAR review, though, which angered Flick and led to him being sent off “coming out of his technical area, shouting, gesticulating and protesting a decision,” according to the referee’s report.
“I said nothing to anyone,” Flick insisted. “It was just a reaction from myself. I have to accept it. I don’t want to speak about referees. I never do this.
“I think this was a reaction because it took a long time to look if it was a penalty or not. If it’s like this, I’m not sure if it’s clear.
“I’m really disappointed about [my red card]. I thought that would never happen to me. But here, maybe it’s like that, and I have to accept it.”
Flick said Barça would not appeal the dismissal — or the touchline ban which will follow — and praised his assistant Marcus Sorg for his management of the latter stages of the encounter.
Barça thought they had won it after Flick’s dismissal when Yamal brilliantly set up Torres with his ninth assist of the season — a league high – in the 82nd minute, but Diao’s stoppage time strike earned a point for the home side.