Xavi Hernandez admitted that Laliga is Barcelona’s to lose now that they are 12 points clear of their arch-rivals Real Madrid who they beat 2-1 on Sunday.
The two Spanish giants battled out their El Clasico match at the Spotify Camp Nou, and the Catalunya side came out tops, coming from behind to bag the three points.
Ronald Araujo’s own goal was cancelled out by Sergi Roberto’s goal before Franck Kessie sealing the goods for the league leaders at the very death.
It was a victory that took Barca 12 points clear at the top of the table which puts them in a great position to lift the league trophy for the first time since the 2018/19 season.
“It’s not definitive, I don’t feel like we are champions yet, but it’s a huge step forward,” Xavi said in a news conference after the game.
“I am happy because [the lead is] 12 points with 12 games left, but it’s not over. Only we can lose LaLiga, so we cannot switch off. We cannot relax. There are still a lot of games to go.”
The win showed that the Catalans are trying to regain the bragging right from the Los Blancos. Before yesterday, Barcelona had not won three matches in a row against Madrid since Pep Guardiola’s last season at the club in 2011/12.
Barca have been in great form this season, and it is no surprise they have that commanding lead at the top. Xavi though, thinks his players have not been given the credit they deserve.
“I don’t think enough value is given to what the players are doing. We have only dropped 10 points in LaLiga. I don’t think that is spoken about enough. They have been extraordinary.
“Look at where we are coming from. Last season, we [finished 13] points behind. We were even three behind when we lost the Clasico [this season] in October — that’s a 15-point swing since then.”
Xavi and his boys will return to action after the international break on April 1 against Elche.
