Xavi encouraged Barcelona to improve their performance against Real Madrid, but questioned whether his club had an “inferiority complex” against Clasico rivals. Barcelona are 15 points behind Carlo Ancelotti’s La Liga leaders and have lost their last five matches in all competitions against Real Madrid.
Between April 1962 and February 1965, Los Blancos had a seven-game winning streak in clashes between the two rivals, the only time the streak was broken. Barcelona, on the other hand, have moved up to third place in the league since Xavi’s arrival and have collected 34 points in 15 La Liga games, a record only Real Madrid has beaten in that time (39 points).
Blaugrana’s head coach wants his players to use their last form to make up for their previous loss against Ancelotti’s side. “I don’t know if it’s a complication, I didn’t” Xavi told reporters at a press conference before Saturday’s game when asked about Barça’s last Clasico record.
“It’s a great opportunity to change history, and winning can greatly support what we’re working on. I don’t know if we’re coming in with more confidence than in previous years, but when we face a good-looking opponent, we have a lot of strength and enthusiasm.”
“We have to be brave, try to push our opinions, but at the same time we have to be calm because everything will have its time. From my experience I can convey calm; it’s just another three points of luck and we should try to enjoy the event. Fortunately, there are some very good games playing with great wins and good feelings. I have good memories about it. [at the Santiago Bernabeu] And winning is something that doesn’t always happen.”
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Xavi gives an honest assessment of Barcelona’s match against Real Madrid:
Barcelona to benefit from confirmed absence of Real Madrid striker Karim BenzemaComing out at the end of Monday’s 3-0 win against Real Mallorca. This season, France’s national team is the leader of statistics in LaLiga with 22 goals, an average of 93.6 minutes, and also 11 assists.
Xavi acknowledged that Benzema’s injury would be a setback for Madrid, as the striker has scored as many goals in two of his last three games with Barcelona as he has in his previous 16 games with Blaugrana.
“Benzema is one of the best forwards in the world, it’s too much to lose him but for us it’s our style. does not change,” said Xavi. “I think that might change things for them. How to replace Benzema is a question for Ancelotti, but he has options.”
Xavi admits that even with a win in the Spanish capital, Barcelona’s odds of winning the league are rather modest. When asked if there was more pressure to win against Madrid to trigger a late push, he replied: “I don’t see it that way, the pressure stays the same.”
If we win, we will be close to the first goal that will be in the Champions League next season. But winning the league seems weird to me. We can be between 12 points, we have a game, it’s weird. I see parallels with 2004 if we win [a 2-1 victory in Madrid]. This victory didn’t help us win the league, but it strengthened us and changed the dynamics as it is today.” Says the former Spanish midfielder.
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