Combined with Real Madrid’s shock 1-0 defeat at Mallorca on Saturday, Barcelona now hold a commanding eight-point lead at the top of the standings after an impressive 3-0 La Liga win over Sevilla at Camp Nou on Sunday.Barca continued their unbeaten start to the year as Jordi Alba, Gavi, and Raphinha all scored in the second half, thus pushing Blaugrana closer to their first title since 2019.The rebirth of Barca came with the comeback of their legend, former star midfielder Xavi. The 43-year-old affected the group slowly but surely and has now led the club to controlling their own destiny as far as La Liga goes. But if you ask the man himself he sees the situation a bit differently.##NAJAVA_MECA_6996974##Despite Barcelona’s commanding position in La Liga and Real Madrid’s comparative struggles – the champions have lost two and drawn one of five league games in 2023 – Xavi warned that there is no room for complacency and that their rivals should not be taken lightly.”I don’t know if we’re the most reliable team in the league. We are in a good moment, but this changes,” he said. “We can’t relax. This is a long race and we have to keep working with humility. The team is buying into the message. We are building something very good, but nothing has been won. Only the Super Cup. We are hungry.””Madrid can beat any team and they still have to come to Camp Nou. Next matchday we go to a ground where Madrid lost (Villarrreal). Every game is going to be a war and it’s not over yet. I don’t see us as more of a favourite, but more of a candidate. The favourites are still Real Madrid, who are the current champions of La Liga and the Champions League.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##Barcelona manager said the club “have the capacity to win all the titles we have left” but insisted Real Madrid remain favourites for La Liga, despite his team opening up an eight-point lead at the top.”We look at both the points difference and the performance today as a sign we are in a moment of great confidence,” Xavi said. “It was a key match because the teams below had lost.”Real Madrid are eight points behind us and although it’s still early days, it’s an important distance. We always think about where we come from and now we are in a privileged situation.”We like being leaders, having this advantage and the good feeling the team is giving us. We’ve played two very good games this week and that gives us a lot of confidence.”Barcelona’s international campaign is a bit less positive but there is still room for joy because – the second-best European club competition won is better than no European club competition won.⚠️ | QUICK STATBarcelona in 2023:✅ 4–3 v Intercity✅ 1–0 v Atlético✅ 2–2 (4–2 AP) v Real Betis✅ 3–1 v Real Madrid✅ 5–0 v AD Ceuta✅ 1–0 v Getafe✅ 1–0 v Real Sociedad✅ 1–0 v Girona✅ 2–1 v Real Betis✅ 3–0 v SevillaMake that 10 out of 10 for Xavi’s troops! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1Jo1bdblme— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) February 5, 2023 After a disappointing Champions League campaign saw them finish third in their group, Barca are also fighting for silverware in the Europa League, where they face Manchester United in the first knockout round next Thursday.”We have the capacity to win all the titles we have left, but we have to prove it on the pitch,” Xavi said. “Euphoria is fine, but it has to be curbed.”
