Xavi hopes Barcelona can try harder as Atletico Madrid clash nears

Barcelona are four points and three places off the number one spot on the La Liga table behind Real Madrid, who are top only on a better goals difference than Girona, and after ending a UEFA Champions League knockout stage drought during the week, Xavi can focus on rediscovering form and getting back on track in the title race.

Xavi’s men beat Porto 2-1 on Tuesday to qualify for the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, and before that game, the manager demanded better from the team, which they delivered, and will now hope they remain consistent when they face Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

“I’m very critical of the players, in the videos, in the talks. We have to demand a lot of ourselves. We are not at the level we were a month and a half or two months ago. We have to push harder, recover our intensity our winning mentality. We have shown that. Now, we’ve dropped a bit. We have to be more humble, more generous, more compact.” Xavi said before Tuesday’s Champions League fixture.

Barcelona hosts Atletico Madrid on Sunday, December 3, at the Stadio Olimpico in a clash that could separate both teams who are joined with 31 points on the table after fourteen games, although the Madrid club has a game in hand.

Despite the game at hand, Diego Simeone’s men have a better goal difference than Barcelona, and they could go three points ahead with a win, which could increase to a six-point gap if they remain consistent and win their outstanding game.

Barcelona have last consistency in their last five La Liga games, which started with a 1-0 win over Athletic Club, then a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the El Clasico before bouncing back with a 1-0 win against Real Sociedad, 2-1 win against Alaves before a 1-1 draw away at Rayo Vallecano last weekend.

Atletico Madrid have enjoyed a more consistent run with four wins and a 2-1 loss to Las Palmas.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu