Barcelona need late goal to beat last-place Almeria 3-2 in Spanish league, end winless streak

Barcelona players celebrate their victory at the Spanish La Liga match against Almeria at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona on Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)

• “We understand why the fans aren't too happy, we aren't either,” Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto said
• Roberto scored twice and Raphinha once for Barcelona, which moved three points ahead of fourth-place Atletico Madrid

MADRID: It was yet another lackluster performance by Barcelona, drawing jeers from the home fans upset with the team's struggles against the only winless team in the Spanish league so far.
Some of the jeers came even after Barcelona found a way to beat last-place Almeria 3-2 on Wednesday, a much-needed hard-fought victory that ended a three-game winless streak and moved the Catalan club back to third place.
“We understand why the fans aren't too happy, we aren't either,” Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto said. “But we have to be more united than ever now. We need the fans behind us. Hopefully we will begin next year with the right foot.”
Roberto scored twice and Raphinha once for Barcelona, which moved three points ahead of fourth-place Atletico Madrid. The Catalan club trail Real Madrid by four points and leader Girona by six points. Madrid visit Alaves on Thursday, while Girona are at Real Betis.
Almeria are the only team yet to win a Spanish league match this season. The Saudi-owned club haven’t won in 21 straight league games, going back to last season.
Barcelona struggled to impose themselves against their minnow opponent and needed an 83rd-minute winner by Roberto to secure the home victory after twice relinquishing a lead at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuic.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 33rd and Léo Baptistão equalized in the 41st. In the second half, Roberto put the hosts ahead again in the 60th before Edgar González evened the match in the 71st after Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña collided with defender Ronald Araujo while going for a ball inside the area.
Peña, who started in place of the injured Marc-André ter Stegen, made a tough save in the 86th to help Barcelona preserve the lead.
“We suffered more than we expected and more than we deserved,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said. “We had 30 shots on goal and gifted two goals. The first half was unacceptable, but the second was better. It's been like this for a month and a half or two.”
Xavi's team have conceded 21 goals in 18 matches, one more than they allowed after all the 38 games last season.
Barcelona were coming off a 1-1 draw at Valencia and a 4-2 loss to Girona at home. They also lost 3-2 to Antwerp to close out their group-stage campaign in the Champions League, although they advanced to the knockout round for the first time after two consecutive early eliminations.
Barcelona have won all of their eight home matches against Almeria in the league, but had lost their last game against the southern Spanish club in February. Barcelona had been unbeaten in their previous 13 matches against Almeria.
Almeria had drawn two of their last three league matches — 0-0 against Real Betis and 0-0 at Mallorca. They stayed in last place with five points — nine points from safety.
Almeria’s lone win in 20 matches this season was against third-division club Tavalera in the first round of the Copa del Rey. They were eventually eliminated by fourth-division team Barbastro in the second round.
Barcelona played with a depleted squad that included the absences of the suspended Frenkie de Jong and the injured Pedri. Roberto started as the defensive midfielder.
Later Wednesday, fifth-place Athletic Bilbao host ninth-place Las Palmas, while Celta Vigo visit Villarreal in a match between clubs fighting against relegation.