Barca’s Xavi expects difficult game in Kazan

FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi expressed his thoughts on the 2-1 defeat to Rubin Kazan in the UEFA champions League by insisting that Barca would normally win such a game and said that Rubin's victory was "undeserved".

"It was a very dissatisfying match from the start, conceding a goal into the top corner from 30 yards at the very beginning. Then we had many chances and made it more difficult for them," he said afterwards, Goal.com reports citing AS. "When it was level we caught with a counterattack and lost. Matches like this, you win nine out of ten, but today we have had to lose."

The midfield playmaker added that the defensive Russian outfit did not deserve to come away from the game with a victory but Barca lacked the final touch to beat them.

"We played well at times, we opened up the pitch and had spells. But it is difficult to measure a team that only defends, especially if you do not find the final pass," he is quoted as saying.

"It will be difficult to win there [in Russia] but we are still leading and we depend only on ourselves."