Barcelona coach Xavi refused to blame ref Mateu Lahoz for their 1-1 draw with Espanyol.

Lahoz sent two players off and issued 15 yellow cards on the day.

Xavi later said. "The draw was our fault, we can talk about the referee but the problem was our lack of effectiveness. We had a very good first half our, created 22 chances, but when you aren't efficient you give life to the rival and in the second half we didn't go out with the right intensity. We finished the year drawing with Real Madrid but we lost two points and it's our fault."

On the referee he said: "He lost control of the game, Mateu is a referee who gives you the sense that he's in control of the game but it was not the case today and I told him at the end of the game. He was giving out senseless cards."

He added: "I don't blame him for anything, the fault is ours. I have to control what's up to me."