Xavi plays down Barcelona title claim despite 8-point gap

Barcelona manager Xavi has insisted that Barcelona are still not the favourite to win La Liga despite being at the top of the La Liga with an 8-point gap.

Barcelona managed a 3-0 win over Sevilla at Camp Nou on Sunday, but it was not as straightforward as the scoreline may have suggested.

Defenders Jordi Alba, Gavi, and Raphinha scored in 22 minutes of the second half to secure the win and send the Blaugrana 8-points clear after Real Madrid’s 1-0 deficit to Mallorca earlier on Sunday.

Despite the recent turn of the form of their rivals, Xavi is not underestimating the possibility of Real Madrid creating a comeback.

“I see ourselves as candidates to win the league, but the favourite is always the defending champion. It’s Madrid, and we can’t lower our intensity at any moment. They can beat anyone. This team has the capacity to win every title we’re competing for. But we can’t only say it; we have to show it. There have been crazy comebacks in La Liga before. We have to avoid that at all costs. I still don’t think we’re the favourites for La Liga. We’re only in February, and we have any tough matches upcoming.” Xavi said.

Barcelona is still in contention to win every title, having made the semifinals of the Copa Del Rey, where they will face Real Madrid. The Blaugrana are also in the next round of the UEFA Europa League, where a clash with Manchester United is on the Horizon.

The Camp Nou outfit will face Villarreal at the Estadio De La Ceramica at the weekend in La Liga before they welcome the Premier League outfit.

Real Madrid will travel to the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco before returning to face Elche and Osasuna in La Liga.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu