MADRID. Nov 10: Criticism rained down on FC Barcelona’s Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal on Monday after the side slumped 2-1 against mediocre Oviedo and proved unable to capitalise on a slip-up by eternal rivals Real Madrid, reports AP.

"Van Gaal is ruining Barca" read the front-page headline of the Barcelona-based national daily El Periodico de Catalunya, while the headline of the citv's main sports daily. El Mundo Deportivo. screamed "No More."

El Periodico said technical errors by Van Gaal were to blame for the defending league and Spanish King's Cup champions losing the game with just six minutes to play.

In the 88th minute. Barcelona were winning 1-0 on a sixth-minute strike’by Ri-valdo. Two minutes into Injury time the side was down 2-1.

The result left Barcelona at No 4 with 16 points after nine rounds. But a victory would have placed them joint No I with Mallorca given that Real Madrid slipped from the top on only drawing 1-1 against Alaves.

The defeat also came too hot on the heels of the 2-1 midweek home drubbing by Bayern Munich that put Barcelona on the verge of elimination from the prized European Champions' League;

"Nervousness ani uncer-

tainty are wracking Barcelona just as in the worst times of the past," El Periodico said in an editorial.

Although Barcelona won last season’s Teague and cup. Eressure for greater success has een mounting since Real Madrid stole the limelight on winning a record seventh Euro-

pean Champions’ cup.

Now Barcelona fans face the possibility of Madrid clinching an eighth Champions' cup in Barcelona's very own Camp Nou after the stadium was chosen as the site for the next final.

Van Gaal, who triumphed with Ajax of Amsterdam prior to coming to Barcelona, has angered club members by ditching many of the side's young, home-grown stars such as Ivan de La Pena, and substituting for them six fellow countrymen, including international stars Patrick Kluivert and Philip Cocu.

In addition. Van Gaal’s cold, disciplined style is seen as a colourless follbw-up act to the flair and success of the Johan Cruyff years, with stars such as Romario and Michael Laudrup, or the spectacular season with Ronaldo under Cruyffs successor. Bobby Robson.

"All fans asked for was coherency. common sense and a team to be proud off. whether it be made up of Spaniards. Catalans or foreigners. Now it demands answers because all the coach can offer after two years is a team confused by its own disorientation." El Periodico added.

Next week. Barcelona face struggling Tenerife in the Spanish league before going on to hosts Manchester United in a decisive Champions' League bout.

Madrid face Celta in the domestic championship before playing Inter Milan away in the European competition.