Cadiz 0 Barcelona 0: Pressure grows on Ronald Koeman after 10-man Catalans are held by La Liga minnows
STRUGGLING Barcelona could only manage a draw as Frenkie de Jong was sent off at Cadiz.
The result leaves boss Ronald Koeman under yet more pressure and already seven points adrift of league-leading rivals Real Madrid.
And the Catalan side, who have come under huge scrutiny following their mixed start to the season, will be hoping for maximum points against Levante on Sunday.
Ronald Koeman’s aces struggled to break their hosts in the early stages with Cadiz striker Ruben Sobrino forcing a shot block from Gerard Pique around the tenth minute.
But the visitors began to ease their way into the game with Sergino Dest prompting Jeremias Ledesma to punch his cross away.
The first-half finished goalless with Alvaro Cevera’s players managing to frustrate the visitors’ passing play.
However the Pirates had to continue the second period without their centre-back Fali who was carried off on a stretcher after falling to the turf clutching his knee.
The opening minutes of the second-half saw ex-Man City ace Alvaro Negredo come close to putting Cadiz ahead with a thumping shot on the edge of the box.
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The former City striker wallopped the ball with the outside of his boot forcing an impressive one-handed save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
And Barca had a couple of decent opportunities to score themselves moments later.
Chances include Memphis Depay getting on the end of a low De Jong cross.
But the forward was unable to get the ball under control and the Dutchman saw a low shot turned away by Ledesma.
Koeman’s aces were reduced to ten men after De Jong picked up a second yellow for a foul on Alfonso Espino
The hosts came close to capitalising on their extra player advantage with Sobrino sending a shot wide after Ter Stegen saved an earlier Salvi Sanchez strike.
The 0-0 finish leaves Cadiz in fourteenth place and Barcelona in seventh.