Three conclusions Xavi drew after analyzing Barcelona’s defeat to Real Madrid – report

Barcelona suffered a painful 4-0 hammering at the hands of Real Madrid in the recent Clasico. The defeat ensured Barça’s elimination from the Copa Del Rey, with their arch-rivals sealing the semifinal tie with an aggregate score of 4-1.

However, Xavi did not dwell long on the defeat. According to Toni Juanmarti, the Barca coach immediately got down to work, obsessively analyzing the match till dawn to identify the team’s shortcomings.

Xavi identified three key conclusions after analysing the game – areas Barcelona must address in order to fare better next time.

Firstly, Xavi identified the absences of the injured Andreas Christensen, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Ousmane Dembele as key factors in the defeat. The absence of these players left a significant void in the team’s midfield, attack and defensive capabilities, which was exploited by Real Madrid.

Xavi and the coaching staff also realized that the team lacked talent and creativity in the attacking third. Barca struggled to add value to their creative plays in the final third and lacked the necessary scoring ability to overturn the game. This led to Real Madrid taking on the initiative and dominating the game.

Finally, Xavi believes there is a desperate need for a new defensive midfielder in the middle of the park. Although Sergio Busquets was there, the Spaniard has lost a lot of pace and agility. As such, Barcelona require someone who can assert himself in the second line of press and stop counterattacks.

Barcelona have gotten into work, as far as their recruiting team is concerned. An effort is being made to sign Lionel Messi, who could serve as the creative enforcer, while the club are constantly keeping tabs on the possibility of a new number six.

As we enter the final phase of the campaign, Barça’s pursuit of their top targets will only intensify as they desperately look to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season.