After extending their advantage at the top of La Liga to 11 points with a tough win at Villarreal on Sunday night, Barcelona’s Xavi has warned his team that now is not the time to lose focus.
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Spanish midfielder Pedri scored the game’s lone goal in the 18th minute to give Barcelona their 11th straight victory across all competitions.
With Real Madrid away in Morocco winning the Fifa Club World Cup, Barcelona took full advantage to extend their lead over the defending league champions.
However, Xavi has once again insisted that Real Madrid are still very much title contenders, saying in his post-match press conference: “It is not an insurmountable distance, there are 17 games left.
“I’m happy, we have a very good run of results, [it’s] extraordinary. We are solid, serious, hardworking.
“These games are costly and it is one more example that the team is solid.”
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While praising his team’s good run of form, the Barca manager was less pleased with their profligacy in front of goal against Villarreal. “I saw many pre-goal options which did not materialise,” Xavi said.
“The last pass was missing, the decision making. When you don’t do it, it’s always the same – you suffer until the end. But we took three vital points for the fight for the league.
“We had more chances, that’s enough to score more goals. The team isn’t successful in shooting. We’re an attacking team, even if we win by the minimum.”
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