Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has explained why his club lost 1-0 to Rayo Vallecano in a LaLiga match at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Rayo Vallecano won all three points against Barcelona thanks to Alvaro Garcia Rivera's first-half goal.

As a result of the match, Barcelona is now 15 points behind Real Madrid in the standings after 33 games.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Xavi said Vallecano defeated Barcelona because his players were not themselves in the first half of the encounter.

The Spaniard described the outcome of the match as a "shame" because it was a golden opportunity for his team to get three points against the visitors.

“We deserved more,” Xavi said.

“It is true that in the first half we weren’t ourselves, but in the second half we improved."

The ball just would not go in. It is very similar to the game against Cádiz. Other teams are playing for their lives, and we have to match the desire of our opponents. ”

“There are games that get complicated because we don’t start as we should.

If you take the lead, then you have everything under control. We don’t lack personality, we just need to start games better. It is a shame because it was a golden opportunity, "he added.