Xavi Hernandez refused a late run to rule out the title and Gerard Pique announced that Barcelona were back after beating Real Madrid 4-0 on Sunday. Classic at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double and further goals by Ronald Araujo and Ferran Torres completed Barca’s six non-profit games against Madrid, dating back to 2019, and reduced the gap on Carlo Ancelotti’s side to 12 points with one game in hand and after 10 matches. the game.
Just minutes after full-time, defender Pique posted “We are back” on social media as Barça stretched their unbeaten streak in the LaLiga to 13 players.
“Maybe we can say we’re back,” coach Xavi said in his post-game news conference when asked if he agreed with Pique’s message.
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“This is the way to follow. This is the way we want to play. It was a complete performance. We were much better than Madrid. We almost played as a home team on the pitch.
“We would have just shot five or six. We have lost the negative momentum of the last few Classicos. It’s a day to enjoy, not only as a Barca manager, but also a fan.
Barca were ninth in the LaLiga when Xavi took over in November, but have since moved up to third. They are now just three points behind Sevilla in second place, which they will face after the international break in March, but the hauling in Madrid has proved harder.
“I do not know if we can win the title, we can not rule anything out,” Xavi added when asked if his side can now win the league this season. “Maybe we’re a little late, but this is a very big win for us.
“We won tonight – and we also have the better head-to-head record [against Madrid, which decides the title if both teams finish level on points] – but it will be very difficult.
“Madrid have lost just three league games. They have to lose three more. We have to keep working hard. The first goal is to qualify for the Champions League.”
Midfielder Sergio Busquets added: “If we only have a small chance to run for the title, we will fight to the end. It is very difficult, but in football anything can happen. We are Barca.”
Barca’s return to form under Xavi was remarkable. They have lost just two of their last 20 games in all competitions, and both of those defeats came after extra time, while the team regained the style of play associated with Barca’s teams of the past.
In the second half, despite the lead of four goals, Xavi regularly appeared on the sidelines in rare occasions, where his players missed the ball.
“You have to run, you have to help the defender, you have to push,” said Xavi. “It was 4-0, but in another match it could be 1-0 and losing the ball could cost us. A football match lasts 90 minutes.
“I get really angry when we lose the ball. You can lose the ball in the last third, but not in your own half. So [I was angry]. If you meet the requirements, you will not get any results. “
Aubameyang opened the scoring after 29 minutes after good work by Ousmane Dembele and Araujo headed the second from a corner 2 minutes later.
Torres added the third in the 47th minute before converting the creator to set up Aubameyang’s second goal, his ninth in 11 games since joining a free transfer from Arsenal in January, just four minutes later.
“It was a special night,” Aubameyang told reporters. “This is not an easy place to come and we have won. I am really happy with my goals. I was desperate to do well [at Barca]like I do, and it’s easier when you have such a team. “
Barca ended the game with 10 shots on goal, with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making some good saves to keep the score, while Aubameyang missed the chance to complete his hat-trick by scoring the ball wide. slips on the far pole.
Xavi’s side now have a two-week break until their next game when they host Sevilla at Camp Nou in LaLiga on April 3.
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