Xavi’s Unfinished Business in El Clásico

Xavi Hernández, if nothing changes, will bid farewell to the Barcelona bench at the end of the season, making Sunday’s clash his final El Clásico as a coach. Over two and a half seasons (he arrived in November 2021), he will have contested ten matches against Real Madrid across three different competitions: La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. The Catalan’s record stands at four victories and five defeats, making this match not just about three points that could keep their title hopes alive but also about ending his coaching stint with a balanced ledger.

It will undoubtedly be a special occasion for Xavi, marking his fourth visit to the Santiago Bernabéu as the head of the Blaugrana squad, the third in the league championship. His away numbers in El Clásico are impressive, with two wins and only one loss under his leadership. The first encounter at Chamartín ended 0-4 in favor of Barcelona, with Aubameyang scoring a brace. The following season, in the ninth round, Real Madrid triumphed 3-1, although Barcelona went on to win the title. The third duel was the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals last season, a 1-0 defeat that didn’t secure qualification as Ancelotti’s side overturned it with a 0-4 win at Camp Nou.

Securing victory this Sunday would allow Xavi to bid farewell to El Clásico on a high note, irrespective of how the season concludes. Even if there were only slim chances of overturning the five-point gap separating Barcelona from Real Madrid for the title, winning would be crucial. In addition to Copa del Rey and La Liga matches, the coach has faced Real Madrid three times in Saudi Arabia, competing for the Spanish Super Cup. The lone victory, in last season’s final, clinched the trophy.

However, recent results have not favored the Blaugrana, who have suffered three consecutive defeats against Carlo Ancelotti’s team. The aforementioned 0-4 loss in last season’s Copa del Rey semi-finals, the 1-2 defeat with a Bellingham brace in the first leg of the league’s El Clásico, and the 4-1 loss in the Super Cup final in Riyadh. It’s time to reverse this trend to maximize their chances of winning the league title for the second consecutive year and to ensure Xavi bids a fond farewell to the Santiago Bernabéu.