Xavi before El Clásico: I have great memories of Real Madrid, like the 6-2 win. But now they are the favourites

The third El Clásico of the season will be played on Thursday night at 9pm. Barcelona will take on Real Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Santiago Bernabéu. What about Xavi before the game?

Xavi has been on the Barcelona bench since November 2021. It has to be said that he has done a lot of work with the team in a year and a quarter, although of course this has been helped by some great reinforcements.

The Blaugranas are seven points clear at the top of La Liga and in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, having already crashed out of the European Cup. Now, however, they have a tough time ahead of them.

They arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu rather weakened, missing three key players Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembélé and Pedri. Together they have scored 26 of Barcelona’s 45 league goals, which is almost half.

In their last match at the Chamartín stadium in Madrid, Real Madrid won 3-1. They clearly had the upper hand in the league game then and after goals from Benzema, Valverde and Rodry showed Barcelona its limits against tougher opponents.

Xavi, however, remembers other games from the Bernabéu. “I have great memories of Real Madrid. I remember the 6:2 win…,” said the Barcelona coach at a press conference.

“It motivates me to come to the Bernabéu. I come with enthusiasm. I like this healthy rivalry. To win at the Bernabéu is a beautiful feeling,” Xavi added.

But he also knows the strength of his opponent. “Last time we beat them with great football, but it’s Madrid that blasted Liverpool on their pitch. I have to be honest, they are the favourites. But we can hurt them, we’ve already proved it,” Xavi said.

Source: MARCA