This Sunday, Barcelona will face leaders Real Madrid in the Spanish Championship. Thus, the team will have the chance to reduce the eight-point gap to its rival, which has 78 points in total.
Coach Xavi highlighted the importance of winning the duel to return to fighting for La Liga.
“Tomorrow we have the opportunity to fight again for La Liga. According to the scenario, it becomes the most important game of the season. We will face a strong opponent, even more so after eliminating the best team in the world, Manchester City. Their euphoria is high and we know they are very strong. Today we trained well, yesterday we were in the wake of being eliminated from the Champions League (against Paris Saint-Germain). The squad has all the enthusiasm in the world to fight for the Spanish Championship. very difficult. For us it is the most important game of the season. We need to win to put pressure on the leader”, he said.
🎙️ Xavi: “We have all the respect in the world for Real Madrid.” #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/4ZHMHICuOq
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 20, 2024
The commander, despite falling in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, said that it is time to turn the key and focus on the national competition.
“We have to turn the key. Let this anger, frustration and impotence from the other day turn in our favor. We have a strong Real Madrid ahead of us and morally reinforced after qualifying for the semi-finals in the Champions League.”
Finally, Xavi clarified that Gundogan’s criticisms of teammate Ronald Araújo, who was sent off in the elimination game, had already been resolved through a conversation.
“It’s resolved. When talking, people understand each other, so it’s resolved. When there is no bad intention, there is no problem. Everything is resolved”, he concluded.
The match against Real Madrid takes place this Sunday, at the Santiago Bernabéu. The ball rolls at 4 pm (Brasília time), for the 32nd round of the Spanish Championship. If Barcelona wins, currently with 70 points, the points difference will drop to five.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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