Xavi is at the verge of main Barcelona again to the Copa del Rey ultimate and repeating a feat closing accomplished when Pep Guardiola was once in price greater than a decade in the past.
Barcelona, the 2021 champion eradicated within the spherical of 16 closing yr, can go back to the general with only a draw towards Real Madrid on the Camp Nou on Wednesday however a win would make it 4 immediately triumphs over its rival for the primary time since Guardiola gained 5 in a row from 2008-10.
The Catalan membership hasn’t ever defeated Madrid 4 instances in a row in the similar season. It beat Madrid 4 instances in 1982–83 however no longer in consecutive fits.
Barcelona misplaced 3-1 to Madrid within the first “clasico” of the season within the Spanish league, however since then it gained 3-1 within the Spanish Super Cup ultimate, 1-0 within the first leg of the Copa semifinal and 2- 1 within the different league fit.
“I think they are hurt and will be wanting to get revenge after losing the last three games,” Xavi mentioned Tuesday. “But they always compete well.”
The closing time Barcelona had gained 3 in a row was once in 2011-12. Madrid gained 5 consecutive towards its rival in a duration from 2020-22. Guardiola’s successful run integrated a 6–2 rout on the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and a 5–0 triumph on the Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s most up-to-date league win towards Madrid left the membership on the subject of its first league identify since 2018-19. It has a relaxed 12-point lead over Madrid with 11 fits last.
“The clasico is the most important match, for the fans, for the players,” mentioned Madrid trainer Carlo Ancelotti. “There is an overly giant contention and that is a very powerful festival. We want to play an entire fit as a result of issues did not move smartly within the closing ones.”
After successful the Spanish Super Cup, advancing to the Copa ultimate would give Xavi an opportunity to steer Barcelona to its 2nd identify of the season. It would come after a dismal duration by which it struggled amid a monetary disaster that ended in the departure of Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain.
Ancelotti may be hoping to stay alive Madrid’s probabilities of successful some other trophy along with the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA’s Club World Cup. Madrid may be alive within the Champions League, the place it faces Chelsea within the quarterfinals.
Madrid hasn’t gained the Copa since 2014, when it beat Barcelona the closing time it made it to the general. Barcelona is the contest’s maximum a hit membership with 31 trophies. Its triumph two years in the past marked the group’s closing identify with Messi within the squad.
Barcelona has succeeded within the fresh “clasicos” below Xavi with a formation that comes with 4 midfielders and Gavi in a extra complicated place. The trainer may just additionally decide to make use of 3 forwards, with Ansu Fati or Ferran Torres taking part in up entrance together with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski. Franck Kessie, who scored the past due winner within the closing league “clasico,” would drop from the lineup in that situation.
Xavi nonetheless will not be able to rely on 4 necessary gamers on account of accidents — Ousmane Dembélé, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Andreas Christensen.
Ancelotti could have all of his common starters to be had except for injured left again Ferland Mendy.
Karim Benzema is coming off a hat trick within the group’s 6-0 rout of Valladolid within the Spanish league, and the French striker is without doubt one of the Madrid veterans who’re finishing their contracts this season and might be making their closing look within the “clasico, together with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets, the participant with a report 47 appearances within the “clásico,” is in a equivalent scenario as his contract with the Catalan membership additionally expires this season.