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Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez still considers Real Madrid favourites to qualify
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has recognised Real Madrid as the favourites to qualify from their Copa del Rey semifinal tie, despite Barcelona taking a 1-0 first-leg advantage from the Bernabeu.
Barcelona beat Real Madrid in smash and grab El Clasico victory
Xavi led Barcelona to a hard-fought win over their arch-rivals in what many are calling a shock victory, but the Spanish coach is not getting carried away with the victory, and still sees Real Madrid in the driving seat of the tie thanks to the team’s overall quality.
Barcelona secured a 1-0 victory, but Real Madrid outplayed them for large parts of the game, and the Catalans finished with 35.3% possession, their lowest tally in any fixture since the 2013/14 season, a record which Xavi attributes to Real Madrid’s quality on the day, not Barcelona's choice to “betray” their possession-based style.
Xavi still considers Real Madrid favourites
Speaking after the game, Xavi alluded to Real Madrid still being favourites, saying, “Real Madrid are still favourites. They are very strong physically, and they have a great team. They are the holders of the Champions League.
“We have an advantage for the second leg, but we still have to compete very well. I think Real Madrid are very strong, and I still see them as the favourites.”
Barcelona play Real Madrid again in LaLiga on the 19th of March, before the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal on the 5th of April and will hope to continue their recent form in El Clasico that has seen them claim consecutive victories against Los Blancos for the first time since 2014.
With players like Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, and Ousmane Dembele expected to return to the side in time for their next meeting, they will also be confident that they can improve on their performance as a whole too.
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