Xavi: Real Madrid is the favourite despite our lead. The pressure is on them

Wednesday night sees the fifth El Clásico of the season. Barcelona secured a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, but Blaugranas coach Xavi still considers Madrid the favourites.

For the fifth time this season, Real Madrid and Barcelona will face off. Real Madrid won the first El Clásico of the season 3-1, but since then only the Blaugranas have won.

The Culés won the Super Cup final 3-1, the Cup semi-final 1-0 and the league match 2-1. In 2023, Barcelona has a 100% record.

However, it was in the semi-final of the cup that they performed their weakest. They only came to the Santiago Bernabéu to defend, they only had 35% of the ball possession for the whole game, which is unusually low for Barcelona.

“Yes, I have the feeling that Real Madrid is the favourite. If we have to play a double-header against Real, it’s very difficult. You think: ‘When was the last time they lost a double-header?’ ” said Xavi at the press conference.

“That’s why I think despite our 1-0 lead, they are still the favourites. The pressure is on them,” the Barcelona coach shrugged off the responsibility.

“They are much more used to playing these games and they are used to turning them around. For me, they are still the favourites,” Xavi tried to take the pressure off his team.

El Clásico at Camp Nou is scheduled for Wednesday at 9pm. In the first leg, Real Madrid clearly had the upper hand but failed to score.

Source: MARCA