Xavi Hernandez praises Barcelona’s “giant step” forward in victory over Osasuna

Barcelona are on the brink of winning their first La Liga title in four years, following a crucial victory over Osasuna on Tuesday. The win moved them 14 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table, with only five matches left to play. While Los Blancos have the opportunity to close the gap back to 11 points with a victory over Real Sociedad, it is still a significant achievement for Barcelona.

However, the victory wasn’t without its frustrations, as they missed several clear chances to extend their lead. Speaking after the match, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez expressed his annoyance at his team’s finishing abilities. He said, “I think we suffered too much. We have missed very clear chances. They have defended well, but in the end Jordi’s goal has arrived.”

Despite the missed chances, Xavi acknowledged that Barcelona’s six-point haul over the last two matches was a significant step towards the La Liga title. He said, “It’s a very important step. La Liga is almost won. These six points (Real Betis and Osasuna) were very important to us after the defeat in Vallecas. Now we’re waiting for what happens in San Sebastián. These six points are a giant step.”

Should Real Madrid drop points in either of their next two matches, Barcelona could win the La Liga title on May 14th, when they face Espanyol in the Derbi Barceloni. It would be a significant achievement for Xavi, who took over as Barcelona coach in November and has overseen a significant upturn in form for the Catalan giants.