Xavi approaches Mourinho's defensive feat
Barca have only conceded nine goals after 30 rounds of La Liga 2022-2023. Currently, the defensive record in European leagues belongs to Cagliari with 11 goals conceded in the 1969-1970 Serie A season. The best record in about 30 years is 15 goals, set by AC Milan in the 1993-1994 Serie A season and Chelsea in the 2004-2005 Premier League season. Thus, if he concedes no more than six goals in the remaining eight rounds in La Liga, Xavi will surpass two famous defensive coaches Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho.
The match against Atletico 1-0 on the evening of April 23 was the 23rd time Barca and goalkeeper Ter Stegen kept a clean sheet after 30 rounds of La Liga 2022-2023. This parameter matches the record set by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo at Barca in the 2014-2015 season. The record of the goalkeeper conceding the least in a La Liga season with 38 rounds also belongs to a Barca goalkeeper - Victor Valdes, who conceded only 16 goals in the 2010-2011 season.
The second best defensive team in La Liga this season is Atletico with 22 goals conceded.
The match at Camp Nou is considered the biggest challenge for Barca in the last leg of La Liga. Xavi's army won thanks to the only goal of Ferran Torres. They thus stopped the series of two 0-0 draws against Girona and Getafe in La Liga, widening the gap with Real to 11 points. Atletico are third with 60 points.
"If we lose, we will close the gap to eight points, so this victory is very important," commented coach Xavi. "Overcoming personal problems, we played a good game. Winning back after two draws is very important, and this is a step forward for Barca."
The championship is judged within Barca's reach. In the remaining eight rounds, they will meet Rayo Vallecano, Real Betis, Osasuna, Espanyol, Sociedad, Valladolid, Marlloca and Celta Vigo, respectively. La Liga is also the only arena Barca still plays. However, coach Xavi still warned his players: "Nothing has been completed, although this victory is very important. At Barca, no one feels like a champion and if anyone is like that, we are. will tell that person that the home team hasn't won anything yet."
Coach 43 also complained about the players' finishing ability, saying that the failure to lead 2-0 made Barca difficult. He called on his students to save more opportunities in the next matches.
Xavi started to lead Barca from the middle of the 2021-2022 season. As a player, he was famous for his passing ability, contributing 185 assists to Barca, second behind Lionel Messi (269 assists).
This season, Barca won the Spanish Super Cup, thanks to a 3-1 victory over Real in the final in Saudi Arabia. If he wins more La Liga, Xavi will win a double in his first full season in charge of Barca.
