For the first time since coming to save Barcelona, Xavi is in a result crisis. There were bad games here and there (a lucky 2-2 with 1-1 against Napoli and 0-0 against Galatasaray, barely a win against Elche), but this is the first time he witnessed two defeats in a row, one of which almost ended 3-0 at the Camp Nou. The crisis started after a magnificent 4-0 win in El Classico against Real, but it didn’t looked like that back then. They continued their streak with a win against second place rivals Seville (1-0), although it was really tight and not so impressive victory, and then drew in Frankfurt, before losing the second leg with 3-2 (3-0 until injury time). After the shock, soon came another – relegation strugglers Cadiz won three days later at the Camp Nou.I will always cheer for my teamI will always cheer for my teamI will always cheer for my teamWe’ll go all out for the winWe’ll go all out for the winWe’ll go all out for the winWear our txuri urdin colours with pride! 😜#RealSociedadBarça | #AurreraReala pic.twitter.com/fYVadwUolX— Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadEN) April 19, 2022 Three games without a win – how? Many of the pundits say it was the international break which happened and ‘broke’ the good run. Xavi’s predecessor Ronald Koeman also had problem with the international break and here we are again. There is also a mental fatigue. Xavi has a bigger squad than Koeman (who also had more injuries), but many players have played two games a week for some time now, and it showed in some matches. Also, for a team as good as Barca’s, currently only two players have snown any sort of creativity: Pedri and Ousmane Dembele. When you depend on only two guys, one of whom is probably gonna leave in the summer as a free agent, it’s not looking good. Opposition in recent games have managed to isolate Busquets and make some good counter attacks after a dispossession from the wings, and it created problems for Barcelona.Laporta explains how almost 35000 Germans invaded Camp NouReal Sociedad is a serious team fighting for their place in Europe and they need points. It’s not like they will vocally threaten Barcelona, but they are expecting Catalonians in a perfect moment. It’s not or never for Real. Barcelona are vulnerable, and the home team has not lost a single game since Real defeated them at the beginning of March.”I think they are a different rival than Cádiz, Eintracht, Levante… they are a great team and Imanol is a great coach. They have been working well for years. They are an example. They have won titles, and we are going to a field that we are not given good. We’ll push. It’ll be a nice game. The anger is over, there’s desire and enthusiasm. We have to get out of the negative dynamic. It’s a final, for the Champions League. It will be difficult” said Xavi before the game.LA LIGA – ROUND 33TuesdayMallorca – Alaves 2-1 (2-0)/Prats 11, Muriqi 45+4 – Raillo 73 og/Betis – Elche 0-1 (0-0)/Morente 82/Villareal – Valencia 2-0 (2-0)/Danjuma 10, 17/WednesdayAtl.Madrid – Granada 0-0Celta – Getafe 0-2 (0-1)/Mayoral 23, 52/Osasuna – Real Madrid 1-3 (1-2)/Budimir 14 – Alaba 12, Asensio 45+1, Vasquez 90+6/Thursday20:00: (3.60) Levante (3.40) Sevilla (2.24)20:00: (2.55) Espanyol (3.05) Rayo Vallecano (3.05)21:00: (3.45) Cadiz (3.10) Ath.Bilbao (2.45)22:30: (3.35) Sociedad (3.50) Barcelona (2.30)***odds are subject to change***
