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Suarez still looking for first Barca win

By Agence France-Presse in Barcelona | China Daily | Updated: 2014-11-03 08:11

Luis Suarez remains without a victory in a Barcelona shirt as the Catalans lost a 1-0 stunner to Celta Vigo in his home debut on Saturday.

Barca had been unbeaten in the league until the Uruguayan's bow away to Real Madrid last weekend but consecutive losses have seen it slip to third in La Liga behind Real and Atletico Madrid.

Luis Enrique's star-studded frontline of Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi was left frustrated as four shots hit the goalposts while other quality chances were denied by Celta 'keeper Sergio Alvarez.

Joaquin Larrivey's second-half strike sealed the Galicians first away victory over Barca since 1941.

"The other day against Real Madrid to return to playing was a bittersweet feeling; it was great to be back but we didn't get the result," Suarez told Barca TV.

"To make my debut at Camp Nou in a competitive game was nice but the result is negative again. We created a lot of chances but we didn't have luck on our side. They defended well and their goalkeeper was great.

"Football can be unjust at times, the opponent creates one chance in the whole game and scores and that hurts."

On top of his 70-minute run out at the Bernabeu, Suarez played 45 minutes in the Catalan Super Cup against Espanyol in midweek to gain match fitness.

He insisted he felt no ill effects from having completed the 90 minutes in a competitive game for the first time in four months following his ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

"I felt much better today than the other days. You always have to be 100 percent ready to compete. In the Bernabeu I felt good in the first moments of the game but in the second half I felt a bit tired after not playing for so long.

"The 45 minutes against Espanyol helped to gain rhythm and today, having played the whole game, I feel much better."

Barca's first chance to bounce back from a disappointing week comes at a ground Suarez knows well as Enrique's men travel to face his old club, Ajax, in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

"The match against Ajax is the most important at the moment," said Suarez, who scored 111 goals during a four-year spell with the Dutch champion.

"It is clear that it is a club that gave me everything. I learned a lot and I will always be thankful for that. To return and play in the Champions League with Barcelona will be great."

Enrique also lamented his side's lack of offensive efficiency and is braced for the criticism that will come his and his players way in the coming days.

"We had 19 shots and hit the woodwork four times. There were errors but the attitude the team showed will reinforce us going forward," said Enrique.

"We deserved to win but this sport rewards effectiveness and that is what we weren't.

"Now we will have a week where it will be open season (to criticize) but our responsibility is to prepare for the game against Ajax."

 Suarez still looking for first Barca win

Barcelona's Luis Suarez (left) and Lionel Messi react during their team's 1-0 La Liga loss to Celta Vigo at Camp Nou in Barcelona on Saturday. Albert Gea / Reuters

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