"Barcelona Do Not Deserve To Play In The Champions League After Draw Against Inter Milan In Potential R-16 Decider"... Says Xavi.

 In a thrilling Champions League group stage match, Robert Lewandowski's equalizer two minutes into stoppage time gave Barcelona a 3-3 draw at home against Inter Milan.

Following a 1-0 defeat at the San Siro last week, Barcelona needed a must victory at the Spotify Camp Nou to keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive, however, all the hopes and optimism, now seem to be fading away.

The match began with Barca dominating the ball and trying to break down their opponents. Inter, meanwhile, tried to hit their hosts on the counter-attack and force them into mistakes in possession.

Barca eventually took the lead in the 40th minute on an Ousmane Dembele goal. The Host enjoyed only a half-time lead as things took a drastic turn in the second half.

Inter drew even five minutes into the new half courtesy of Nicolo Barella's potent shot, before Lautaro Martinez gave the Italians their first lead in the 68th minute.

Lewandowski gave the host hope with 10 minutes to go after Bastoni failed to clear his initial header, allowing Barca’s top scorer to gather up the ball and shoot it past Onana.

Barca pressed hard for a winner, too hard as it turned out. Martinez switched roles, getting in behind on the counter and assisted Substitute Robin Gosens who fired past Ter Stegen for what appeared to be the game-winning goal.

Two minutes into the extra period, Lewandowski popped up again in injury time to make it 3-3 with a thumping header. 

The result means that Barcelona must have to win both of their last two matches and hope that Inter Milan drop points twice to have a chance of making it through to the last 16, with the Catalan club needing to make it through for financial reasons.

Despite all the club’s efforts in the transfer window, the Spanish giants are on the verge of appearing in the Europa League for two seasons in a row for the first time since the 1970s.

Xavi Hernandez admitted angrily afterwards that the team made too many mistakes in the game. “I’m very disappointed, sad, frustrated…I’m angry. I have to be self-critical, we don’t deserve to play in the Champions League. It hurts me, but it’s the truth... He said.

“Today the match was under control and in the 50th minute there was a clear defensive mistake, you go back to the draw and you have to start again with what it had cost you, mentally it’s hard for us.

“Let’s hope that today’s game doesn’t affect us for El Clásico in terms of mentality, the players have given their all today. The goal for this season is still the same, to win trophies.”

Xavi further went on to apologize to the fans for a shambolic display on the night: “I apologise to the fans because we made the mistakes, we had set our minds not to fail, and we have failed, so we have to apologise to the fans, who have been wonderful. I want to tell them that we will work to turn this situation around and win titles.”

Barcelona will now prepare to travel to the Spanish capital to play Real Madrid in the much anticipated El Clasico game on Sunday, before welcoming Villareal to Camp Nou five days later.

The two fierce rivals (Barca and Madrid), are level on points at the top of La Liga table and after the result against Inter, winning the league now becomes even more important for Barca.

Their next Champions League game will be at home against Group C leaders Bayern on October 26, while Inter face Viktoria Plzen.