Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano said it was an "ugly feeling" that his team had been "totally outplayed" while being shocked 4-1 at Celta Vigo in Wednesday evening's La Liga clash.
Celta played superbly and won easily with goals from Nolito, Iago Aspas (two) and John Guidetti, with Neymar's late strike not counting for much in the end.
Eduardo Berizzo's energetic and positive side could even have won by more as Barca's defence was exposed again and again over the 90 minutes. Mascherano himself did not have a good day, while defensive colleagues Daniel Alves and Gerard Pique were each caught out personally for two of Celta's goals.
The Argentine spoke honestly to reporters in the Balaidos mixed zone after the match, saying there were "no excuses" and Barca's players needed to "hang our heads" having been beaten so emphatically.
"Those of us who have been a while in football, we know there can be a day when the opponent is better than you, and wins all the second balls and the individual duels, and does not give you any chance," Mascherano said. "It's partly our own fault, and partly down to the opponent, who played a perfect game. There are no excuses. They beat us well, we must hang our heads. I believe the most worrying thing was we were not as good as the opponent. When you feel totally outplayed in the game, it's an ugly feeling."
Mascherano said this was not one of those defeats where an opponent parks the bus and rides their luck to win, but a game in which the better team had deserved to win.
"They were just better than us, not just in the result, but in the play, which is what most worries me," he said. "Often you can be beaten in the result, but not deserve it on the balance of play, but Celta were better in every position and deserved to win."
Real Madrid are La Liga's new leaders after the midweek round of games, having won 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao to sit just ahead of second-placed Celta Vigo on goal difference. Barca are a further point back, level with Atletico Madrid, in a very tight top of the early-season table.
Mascherano said that Luis Enrique's side needed to overcome this setback, as they had at similar moments last season, starting with Saturday afternoon's home game with Las Palmas at the Camp Nou.
"At Barcelona it always hurts to lose and the demand is there to win every game," he said. "But this is not new for us. The best way to turn the page is next Saturday. This has just begun. We must reflect on last season. There are difficult moments and you must put yourself back together."