Barcelona boss Xavi puts rivals Real Madrid as La Liga title favourites despite the Blaugrana being eight point clear on top

A fine second half performance from FC Barcelona saw them beat Sevilla comfortably as they strengthened their position at the top of the La Liga points table by eight points. The Catalans are now in the driver’s seat with Real Madrid starting to drop points. Barcelona got an extra boost with their win as Real Madrid lost to Mallorca recently and hence allowing them a handsome lead at the top of the table.

Coming back to the game, Barcelona were slow to come off the blockchain the first half against Sevilla but they looked a completely different team in the second half as Jordi Alba broke the deadlock with a brilliant side foot finish whereas Gavi doubled the lead from a sublime Raphinha cross. Lastly the Brazilian took the matters in his own hands and sealed the game with a finish of his own.

Despite a great win and a handsome lead in the La Liga points table, Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez feels rivals Real Madrid are the favourites to win the league title. The Spaniard is not getting ahead of himself as he shares that the league has seen sensational comebacks in the past.

“They [Real Madrid] are still the favourites because they are the reigning La Liga and Champions League champions. I don’t see us as favourites, I see us as candidates. I know and we know that Real Madrid will continue to compete until the end. There have been historic comebacks, we mustn’t get carried away but we know we are in a privileged position,” Xavi told Marca following Barcelona’s win over Sevilla.

Xavi shared that his team has done well in the last two matches but the season is not over yet and they have a tough challenge ahead against Villareal. He also reminds everyone that the Yellow Submarines have defeated Real Madrid, indicating that it is not an easy venue to visit and come home with all three points.

“Although nothing is definitive, we like being leaders and have played very well in the last two matches. We have to enjoy it and prepare for Sunday, when we have an important game at La Cerámica against Villarreal. Real Madrid lost there,” the Spaniard added.

Almost all the statistics are in Barcelona’s favour as they are eight point ahead in the league title race along with that they have the best goal difference, best attack in terms of goal, least goals conceded and have not lost a match in 16 weeks and has also picked up 15 clean sheets. Overall the Blaugrana are in fiery form and have been extremely dominant in the league this season. However Xavi unlines time and again that the La Liga is a long distance race and while he is happy with the win over Sevilla, he simply admitted that he is already thinking about the Villareal up next.

“I don’t know if we are the most reliable team but we are in great form. La Liga is a long-distance race, we have to keep working with humility. I’m particularly happy but I’m already thinking about Villarreal,” Xavi concluded.