Xavi to step down as Barcelona boss Real Madrid return to the summit

Barcelona manager Xavi has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Xavi's position has been under the spotlight as the LaLiga champions have fallen behind Real Madrid and Girona at the top of the table.

Following Saturday’s 5-3 home defeat by Villarreal, Xavi posted a message on the club’s official social media account confirming his departure.

"I want to announce that on June 30 I will no longer continue as the coach at Barca. I think the situation needs to change course, and as a culer (Barca fan), I cannot allow the current situation."

The result leaves them 10 points off the top after two stoppage-time Villarreal goals saw the champions beaten at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Trailing 2-0 via efforts either side of the break from Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach, Barca suddenly turned things around with strikes from Ilkay Gundogan, Pedri and an Eric Bailly own goal in quick succession.

Villarreal then brought the score back level through Goncalo Guedes' 84th-minute finish, before Alexander Sorloth and Jose Luis Morales added goals deep into stoppage time to complete a stunning comeback from the visitors and make it it back-to-back defeats for Xavi's men, beaten 4-2 after extra time at Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

Real Madrid returned to the summit as Carlo Ancelotti's men came from behind to win 2-1 at Las Palmas.

Having fallen behind to Javier Munoz's 53rd-minute goal, Real - without the suspended Jude Bellingham - hit back with Vinicius Junior equalising before Aurelien Tchouameni notched the winner with six minutes of normal time remaining.

A fifth successive league win for Los Blancos sees them move two points above Girona, who play at Celta Vigo on Sunday.

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