Barcelona midfielder Pedri admitted Saturday’s defeat to Atletico was tough to take after seeing the [Catalans beaten 2-1 at home in La Liga](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2024/12/21/24325277/barcelona-atletico-madrid-la-liga-final-score-match-report-recap-reactions).
Pedri scored and was the best player on the park by a mile at Montjuic but admitted his team’s failure to take their chances proved costly.
> “It was a very tough defeat, to be honest. We had chances to close the game and when you don’t close it out, what happens happens. They catch us on the counterattack, and we have to be more prepared. The defeat is quite tough,” he told the media.
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> “I think we tried. We put in a lot of intensity, work... we had a lot of clear chances. Robert, Raphinha, another me... football is very complicated if you don’t score goals.”
The defeat means Barcelona have now lost consecutive games at home in La Liga and now sit three points behind Atletico who also have a game in hand.
> “It’s difficult. We should be much more difficult to beat us at home and it’s not happening that way. We have to improve a lot and take the break to recover mentally and physically. Come with everything and try not to lose any more games,” he added.
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> “We wanted to leave with that victory and be leaders, but that wasn’t the case. We have to reset these days and rest. Come back hungry and eager to take the league to the top.”
Barcelona now take a break over the festive period and return to action in January at the start of January against [Barbastro in the Copa del Rey.](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2024/12/9/24316920/barcelona-draw-barbastro-in-copa-del-rey-last-32)