Xavi Hernandez - players.bio

Barcelona must give up La Liga ambitions to focus on Europa League success to build team for next season

Barcelona can't be sure that they will beat Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night — but now is the time for them to give up on chasing La Liga. It is a credit to new manager Xavi Hernandez and his resurgent squad that this even became a consideration. Well off the pace when he returned from Qatar to take over, with problems mounting on and off the pitch, they have nevertheless kept the title mathematically in play.

La Liga: Luuk de Jong Stoppage Time Header Gives Barcelona Victory Over Levante

Luuk de Jong headed in a 92nd-minute winner on Sunday as Barcelona prevailed in a five-goal thriller against Levante to return to second in La Liga. De Jong's late goal, his sixth in the league for Barca, proved the decisive moment in a 3-2 victory in Valencia but it was the introduction of the 19-year-old Pedri off the bench that turned the momentum of the contest. Asked if the team are too reliant on Pedri, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said: "I wouldn't put it like that but he is an extraordinary player. I don't hold back any praise, he is a player who excites people and makes a difference."

Xavi Hernandez insists Barcelona are not dependent on Pedri

Xavi Hernandez says Barcelona are not dependent on Pedri after the youngster produced another game-changing performance in Sunday's thrilling 3-2 win over Levante.

Lionel Messi told "it's time to return home" as Dani Alves calls for Barcelona "last dance"

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Barcelona survives 3 penalties, moves back into 2nd place

MADRID: Not even conceding three penalty kicks was enough to stop Barcelona’s impressive run. Barcelona rallied to a 3-2 win against second-to-last Levante in the Spanish league on Sunday, with substitute Luuk de Jong scoring in stoppage time after the Catalan club had conceded three penalties in the second half. The win extended Barcelona’s unbeaten run to 15 matches in all competitions and moved the team back into second place in the league after it was leapfrogged by Sevilla on Saturday.

Luuk De Jong rescues Barcelona with stoppage winner at Levante after end to end five-goal clash

Barcelona's extended their winning streak to seven games in La Liga after Luuk De Jong came off the bench to net a stunning late winner as Xavi Hernandez's side edged Levante in a 3-2 classic. Xavi's side conceded three penalties, two of which were converted, as the hosts did their best to keep their slim hopes of survival alive, whlle Barcelona strengthened their place in the top-four and kept an unlikely title hunt alive.

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The 20 players with best assists-per-game ratios in La Liga since 2000 - Leo Messi only 3rd

Lionel Messi is as famous for assisting goals as he is for scoring them.

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Xavi Hernandez Sport News

Barcelona must give up La Liga ambitions to focus on Europa League success to build team for next season

La Liga: Luuk de Jong Stoppage Time Header Gives Barcelona Victory Over Levante

Xavi Hernandez insists Barcelona are not dependent on Pedri

Lionel Messi told "it's time to return home" as Dani Alves calls for Barcelona "last dance"

Barcelona survives 3 penalties, moves back into 2nd place

Luuk De Jong rescues Barcelona with stoppage winner at Levante after end to end five-goal clash

Dani Alves explains why he'd splash the cash on Kylian Mbappe but not Erling Haaland

The 20 players with best assists-per-game ratios in La Liga since 2000 - Leo Messi only 3rd