Juan Rodriguez and Pablo Amo struck the goals for the hosts against a lacklustre Barca.

"The defeat was the result of many factors - we played another game after only a few days, the players did not have time to recover and this caused their pace to slow during the match," said Rijkaard, who rested several of his first-choice stars.

"The Liga always is difficult. Depor deserved to win the game, but we can give more and still win our remaining games.

"My players wanted to win this game. We didn't take it easy. But it wasn't to be."