Former Espanyol president calls for investigation into Barcelona's recent defeat
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Former Espanyol president Joan Collet has demanded an investigation into Barcelona's loss to Real Valladolid on Tuesday, hinting that his previous side's rivals may be losing games on purpose.
Barca have lost both of their games since being confirmed La Liga champions, with the latest having a direct implication on the relegation fight in the division.
The win for Valladolid, which came partly in thanks to an own-goal and a penalty, pulled the hosts out of the relegation zone with just a matter of games left to play this season.
Espanyol are in serious trouble of being relegated, and Collet, who was president between 2012 and 2016, hasn't taken kindly to Barca's defeat.
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"I was watching the game with the peace of mind that I knew what would happen," he told AS. "I expected it, nothing surprised me.
"Xavi had said that they would win. Naturally, what else was he going to say? [The result] Not only hurts one team, Espanyol, but five (Getafe, Cadiz, Almeria and Celta Vigo, who are also fighting relegation]. Let the fans of each team draw their own conclusions”.
Barca won the title at Espanyol's RCDE stadium on May 14 and were subject to a pitch invasion from angry home fans.
La Liga have said the club will be punished but Collet told the league to look into Barca's ways.
"The League, which likes to investigate everything so much... if I were at Espanyol, perhaps I would tell them why not take a look at Pucela's game," he said. "If Celta plays on the last day, the same thing will happen again. There is no doubt, nor should anything surprise us."
Barca will take on Mallorca on Sunday at the Nou Camp before a game against Celta Vigo in their final match of the season, which is likely to have a big impact on who's playing top division football next season.
With little to play for, there could be several reasons for the club's back-to-back losses. Collet, however, has his own theory. The rivalry will never die.
