“At Barça, winning is non-negotiable,” mummed Barcelona boss Xavi ahead of his side’s all-important Supercopa de Espana final against Real Madrid.
Barcelona’s run of form under Xavi has been virtuous, to say the very least.
Topping the La Liga charts with three points ahead of their title rivals, the team has shown high standards even after the players returned from the World Cup.
And as it turns out, the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday might as well be another defining moment for Xavi’s Barcelona tenure.
For starters, beating their eternal rivals in a cup final will not only boost the morale of Xavi’s coaching staff, but it will also be a positive catalyst for a relatively young squad as well.
In fact, a win would mean the likes of Gavi, Pedri and Alejandro Bale among others will get their hands on their first-ever competitive trophy.
And once that is done, Barcelona can silently put their heads into winning the league crown.
Now, the games are indeed coming thick and fast but it must be noted that Barcelona’s upcoming round of fixtures is relatively easier than Madrid’s.
Following the Super Cup final, the team from Catalonia will resume their league run on Sunday, January 22 against Getafe, followed by consecutive away games against Girona and Real Betis.
Madrid, on the other hand, play Athletic Club, Real Sociedad and Valencia in their next three league games.
In all, a win against Madrid at the King Fahd International Stadium in Saudi Arabia will be an incentive for the team to carry on the momentum in the league.
Through this, not only they can derail Madrid’s title chances but they can also boost their own authority.
At the same time, however, a defeat may put everything in a bad shape. While a state of dismay is one part of it, this defeat could impact their performances in other competitions as well, such as Copa del Rey and even the UEFA Europa League.
The fact of the matter is that the upcoming game against Madrid should and must be of utmost importance for all the good reasons.
Make or break should be the attitude when the players take the field against the European champions.
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