Barcelona lost their first El Clasico of the season to Real Madrid with a score of 1-2. Two shining moments of Jude Bellingham, including a beautiful long-range shot from outside the box, sinked Barca right at home.
However, in reality, what happens on the pitch is not much different between Barca and Real. Xavi chose the right tactic for the Blaugrana and felt satisfied after the match. Obviously, Bellingham's moment of genius was beyond the calculations of the Spanish strategist.
Moreover, the season has a long way to go. The 4-point gap with Real Madrid is not a disaster for Barcelona.
It is difficult to criticize Barcelona after the defeat to Real Madrid. They have almost done everything right and are lacking a breakthrough, which Los Blancos have. Xavi chose the right approach and personnel to help the Blaugrana dominate for most of the match.
The deployment of Joao Cancelo in the midfield position, combined with Gavi's flexible movement, has confused Real Madrid. Barca took a 1-0 lead after 10 minutes and if Fermin Lopez's shot had been accurate, things could have been different. Of course, in football, there is no if and simply Real know how to take advantage of opportunities better.
Another mitigating factor for Xavi and his students is injuries to a series of key players. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong did not play, while Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha only came off the bench.
In addition, there is the absence of Jules Kounde, while Lamine Yamal, Joao Felix and Gavi are all not in the best physical condition.
Real have also suffered many injuries, but they know how to deal with the absence of Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois. In contrast, Barca were forced to change every week and the El Clasico came too early for them.
In fact, Barca has not yet had the strongest framework of this year's season. Only when Xavi finds the most optimal squad can we accurately assess the strength of this team.
The Blaugrana are not lacking in talent, especially in midfield and attack, but Xavi is forced to constantly change due to injuries. For example, Ferran Torres is not a true striker but has to play in this position. The same thing happened to Gavi, who had to keep moving his wings.
Another factor that will help Barca fans feel secure is the average age of the players in the squad. Gavi, Pedri and Balde are all constantly learning and developing. Yamal, 16, will improve with each match.
Meanwhile, Fermin has a lot of potential. Xavi himself is still inexperienced in his coaching career, having only worked in Europe for 2 years.
Xavi has repeatedly spoken about Barca's steady progress and has appeared calm at press conferences. He understands that the team can win but also realizes that they have to improve.
And remember, Barca were in a similar situation last season. They easily lost their first El Clasico of the season and failed to qualify for the Champions League group stage. There have even been rumors that Xavi could be sacked in November.
Then there was a turning point in early 2023. Starting with a Spanish Super Cup victory over Real helped Blaugrana advance to the championship. Despite their not-beautiful playing style, Xavi's team together created a long unbeaten streak and won La Liga.
Barca's personnel have improved significantly this season. And for all the pressure surrounding Barcelona, they have enough confidence to overcome.
