Barcelona’s loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League led to Xavi expressing frustration with the refereeing decisions, particularly the red card shown to Ronald Araujo. However, former Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil advised Barcelona to focus on their own performance rather than blaming the officials. With El Clasico against Real Madrid approaching, Ozil highlighted the importance of self-reflection and minimizing mistakes. Real Madrid, led by stars like Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, have been on a fantastic run this season and currently hold an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga.
Despite injuries to key players like Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba, Real Madrid have maintained their strong position in La Liga. They recently secured a dramatic win against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals. On the other hand, Barcelona has been struggling with injuries to players like Alejandro Balde and Gavi. Barcelona’s recent Clasico record is also not in their favor, as they have lost the last four competitive clashes against Real Madrid. Xavi’s upcoming final clash against Real Madrid before leaving his post this summer adds to the significance of the match.
Mesut Ozil emphasized that Barcelona needs to focus on their own performance and work towards minimizing mistakes rather than constantly complaining about refereeing decisions. Real Madrid’s successful season, despite the departure of key player Karim Benzema, serves as an example of the importance of self-improvement and resilience. Xavi’s confrontation with the referee after the loss to PSG and his subsequent criticisms of the officiating were seen by Ozil as a distraction from Barcelona’s main goal of improving their performance.
Barcelona’s upcoming match against Real Madrid in El Clasico presents a crucial opportunity for them to prove themselves and potentially close the gap in the title race. Real Madrid’s dominance in recent Clasico clashes and their strong position in the league add to the pressure on Barcelona. The absence of key players for both teams due to injuries further complicates the dynamics of the match. As Real Madrid and Barcelona gear up for this high-stakes encounter, the focus remains on their performance on the field and the opportunity to make a statement in one of football’s most iconic rivalries.
