Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele, second from right, celebrates with teammates after the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona at Civitas Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo / Manu Fernandez)
Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele, second from right, celebrates with teammates after the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona at Civitas Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo / Manu Fernandez)
Atletico Madrid's Reinildo Mandava, left, and Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele challenge for the ball. AP Photo
Atletico Madrid's Reinildo Mandava, left, and Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele challenge for the ball. AP Photo
Barcelona's French forward Ousmane Dembeleruns with the ball. AFP
Barcelona's French forward Ousmane Dembeleruns with the ball. AFP
Barcelona striker Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring. EPA
Barcelona striker Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring. EPA
Ousmane Dembele celebrates his goal. Getty Images
Ousmane Dembele celebrates his goal. Getty Images
Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann reacts after a challenge. AP Photo
Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann reacts after a challenge. AP Photo
Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid is challenged by Ronald Araujo of Barcelona. Getty Images
Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid is challenged by Ronald Araujo of Barcelona. Getty Images
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, centre, makes a save. AP Photo
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, centre, makes a save. AP Photo
Barcelona's Ronald Araujo, top, and Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix challenge for the ball. AP Photo
Barcelona's Ronald Araujo, top, and Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix challenge for the ball. AP Photo
Atletico Madrid's Stefan Savic, right, and Barcelona's Ansu Fati challenge for the ball. AP Photo
Atletico Madrid's Stefan Savic, right, and Barcelona's Ansu Fati challenge for the ball. AP Photo
Barcelona's Spanish forward Ferran Torres fights with Atletico Madrid's Montenegrin defender Stefan Savic. Both were sent off in second-half injury time. AFP
Barcelona's Spanish forward Ferran Torres fights with Atletico Madrid's Montenegrin defender Stefan Savic. Both were sent off in second-half injury time. AFP
Barcelona substitute Ferran Torres is sent off. EPA
Barcelona substitute Ferran Torres is sent off. EPA

Sport

Football

Xavi has 'first title in sight' as Barcelona take on Real Betis in Spanish Super Cup

Catalan giants play last-four clash in Saudi Arabia on Thursday with potential final against Real Madrid three days later

The National

January 11, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Xavi Hernandez is determined to win his first trophy as Barcelona manager as his team prepare for Thursday's Spanish Super Cup semi-final clash against Real Betis in Saudi Arabia.

The Catalan giants moved clear at the top of La Liga after their 1-0 victory at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, courtesy of Ousmane Dembele's first-half winner at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

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Xavi says Barcelona 'candidates to win this league' after statement victory at Atletico

A delighted Xavi said that Barca are “candidates to win this league” after a battling performance in the Spanish capital that leaves them three points ahead of second placed Real Madrid in the table.

Next up for Barca is Real Betis in Riyadh – before a potential final against Real Madrid or Valencia on Sunday – and Xavi admits the pressure is growing for him to win the club's first trophy since the Spanish Cup in 2021.

“I have my hope and desire intact from the first day, I'm here to win titles and if there are no titles this season, you'll kill me, that's how it is,” Xavi told reporters on Wednesday.

“We have a title in sight, four days away, we have to win tomorrow and go for it, it's been a little while without titles and it's time [to win them] now.”

Barcelona gambled in the summer by making big investments in the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha after watching arch-rivals Real Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League last season.

The club sold 25 per cent of their league television rights to US investment firm Sixth Street in the summer for the next 25 years to make an estimated €665 million ($716 million).

Along with other deals, including selling almost 50 per cent of their production company Barca Studios, the club were able to boost their spending power.

Atletico Madrid 0 Barcelona 1: Player ratings

BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 7 - First save wasn’t until the 45th minute, from a Griezmann shot. Vital block off the line in 95th minute as the home side pushed for an equaliser. Yet another clean sheet. AP Photo
BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 7 - First save wasn’t until the 45th minute, from a Griezmann shot. Vital block off the line in 95th minute as the home side pushed for an equaliser. Yet another clean sheet. AP Photo
Alejandro Balde, 7 - Apart from losing possession a couple of times, another mature performance from the young full-back against a side described by Xavi as ‘chameleons’ – as in they can adapt to any circumstances. They struggled to adapt to Barcelona. AFP
Alejandro Balde, 7 - Apart from losing possession a couple of times, another mature performance from the young full-back against a side described by Xavi as ‘chameleons’ – as in they can adapt to any circumstances. They struggled to adapt to Barcelona. AFP
Ronald Araujo, 8 - Tucked his arm in before an Atletico shot hit it amid appeals for a penalty on 32 minutes. Booked as his side took advantage of Real Madrid’s defeat at Villarreal to move to the top of the table. Super goal line clearance in injury time. AP Photo
Ronald Araujo, 8 - Tucked his arm in before an Atletico shot hit it amid appeals for a penalty on 32 minutes. Booked as his side took advantage of Real Madrid’s defeat at Villarreal to move to the top of the table. Super goal line clearance in injury time. AP Photo
Andreas Christensen, 8 - Part of a defence that kept another clean sheet in La Liga. Booked for a late block on Greizmann. Excellent. AFP
Andreas Christensen, 8 - Part of a defence that kept another clean sheet in La Liga. Booked for a late block on Greizmann. Excellent. AFP
Jules Kounde , 8 - Got Christensen out of an early problem and linked well with Dembele on the right. Kept Joao Felix quiet, which isn’t easy. AFP
Jules Kounde , 8 - Got Christensen out of an early problem and linked well with Dembele on the right. Kept Joao Felix quiet, which isn’t easy. AFP
Frenkie de Jong , 6 - Helped Barça control the game with 60 per cent possession to get their first win at Atletico in three years. Surprisingly brought off after 67 minutes and he didn’t look delighted with the decision. EPA
Frenkie de Jong , 6 - Helped Barça control the game with 60 per cent possession to get their first win at Atletico in three years. Surprisingly brought off after 67 minutes and he didn’t look delighted with the decision. EPA
Sergio Busquets, 7 - Early clash with Savic and a couple of battles with his pink-haired former teammate Griezmann. A few poor passes as Barça sat back and protected their lead without playing well. But what a win. AFP
Sergio Busquets, 7 - Early clash with Savic and a couple of battles with his pink-haired former teammate Griezmann. A few poor passes as Barça sat back and protected their lead without playing well. But what a win. AFP
Gavi, 7 - Tenacious as ever as he held his opponent off, spun and set up Dembele for Barca's goal. Helped the Catalans dominate possession. Battled with his Spain teammate Koke. AFP
Gavi, 7 - Tenacious as ever as he held his opponent off, spun and set up Dembele for Barca's goal. Helped the Catalans dominate possession. Battled with his Spain teammate Koke. AFP
Pedri, 7 - Incredible run before the first goal. Should have made it two a minute later, but his shot was blocked by Molina. AFP
Pedri, 7 - Incredible run before the first goal. Should have made it two a minute later, but his shot was blocked by Molina. AFP
Ousmane Dembele, 7 - Side-footed home on 21 minutes to cap a wonderful team goal. Always a danger – and the Catalans only real attacking threat, especially on the counter-attack. Getty Images
Ousmane Dembele, 7 - Side-footed home on 21 minutes to cap a wonderful team goal. Always a danger – and the Catalans only real attacking threat, especially on the counter-attack. Getty Images
Ansu Fati, 5 - Started with 23-goal top scorer Lewandowski serving a three-game ban, but he had a quiet game and was the first player to be brought off. Has to do much more to keep his place in the side. EPA
Ansu Fati, 5 - Started with 23-goal top scorer Lewandowski serving a three-game ban, but he had a quiet game and was the first player to be brought off. Has to do much more to keep his place in the side. EPA
SUBS: Franck Kessie, 5 - On for De Jong after 58 minutes and straight into his position. Slack in possession. AP Photo
SUBS: Franck Kessie, 5 - On for De Jong after 58 minutes and straight into his position. Slack in possession. AP Photo
Ferran Torres, 5 - On for Fati after 58 minutes. Put the ball in the net but he was offside. Sent off after 91 minutes after grappling with Savic. Will be suspended AFP
Ferran Torres, 5 - On for Fati after 58 minutes. Put the ball in the net but he was offside. Sent off after 91 minutes after grappling with Savic. Will be suspended AFP
Raphinha, 5 - On for Gavi on 73 minutes. Booked for refusing to go off the pitch after a head injury. Getty Images
Raphinha, 5 - On for Gavi on 73 minutes. Booked for refusing to go off the pitch after a head injury. Getty Images
Sergi Roberto, N/A - On for Busquets after 81 minutes and straight into that holding midfield role. EPA
Sergi Roberto, N/A - On for Busquets after 81 minutes and straight into that holding midfield role. EPA
Marcos Alonso N/A - On for Balde after 81 minutes as Xavi used all five subs – and recorded a fine result without Lewandowksi. Getty Images
Marcos Alonso N/A - On for Balde after 81 minutes as Xavi used all five subs – and recorded a fine result without Lewandowksi. Getty Images

However the Catalans were eliminated from the Champions League in the group phase and dropped down into the Europa League, where they face Manchester United in the knockout phase play-offs.

The Spanish Super Cup is their first chance this season to prove the big investment was wise and the project is moving in the right direction.

“We are very motivated to win the trophy, it won't change a lot but it would bring us a lot of calm,” added Xavi.

Xavi, meanwhile, denied any interest in bringing Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to Camp Nou this month.

The Gabonese attacker only left Barcelona for a return to London – having previously played for Arsenal – last September to play under his former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.

But Tuchel was sacked by Chelsea a week later and replaced with Graham Potter and Aubameyang has barely figured under his new manager with reports emerging this week that he was trying to engineer a move back to Spain.

Aubameyang enjoyed a successful stint with the club, scoring 13 goals in 23 appearances, but Xavi played down any hint of a return – and also claimed he knew nothing about reports that Barca striker Memphis Depay could be sold to Atletico Madrid.

“We are happy with the squad. In principle, there will be no changes,” he said. “We do not know anything [about Depay]. We will see what happens. I told the board that I’d be happy if the squad remains as it is.”

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Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17

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Related
THE BIG THREE

NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m

ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m

RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m

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Updated: January 11, 2023, 5:11 PM`
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