The race to catch up ends very bitterly
Xavi announces his departure because of the Barça crisis
January 27, 2024, 10:26 p.m
The crisis at FC Barcelona has severe consequences: Coach Xavi announced his departure at the end of the season in the evening. Shortly beforehand, İlkay Gündoğan was involved in three goals for the Catalans, the club managed a strong comeback – and was knocked out very late
The problems at Spanish football champions FC Barcelona are increasingly developing into a crisis – and coach Xavi will leave the club at the end of the season. Three days after the cup knockout. The Catalans remained winless for the third time in the last five competitive games in the 3:5 (0:1) defeat against Villarreal FC despite a goal from national team captain İlkay Gündoğan. At the subsequent press conference, club icon Xavi announced that he would be turning his back on the club at the end of the season.
“I will be leaving the club on June 30th, it’s a decision I made with the president and the staff,” said the former midfield star. “I think there needs to be a change.” As a fan of FC Barcelona, he could no longer allow the situation to continue.
Xavi took over his favorite club as coach in autumn 2021 and still has a contract until 2025. The 2010 world champion and European champion in 2008 and 2012 had previously trained Al-Sadd in Qatar. With Barça he won the championship and Supercup in 2023.
Gündoğan has to accept the next bankruptcy.
(Photo: AP)
Barca is in crisis, despite well-known players like Gündoğan, Robert Lewandowski or the gems Pedri and Gavi. On Saturday, the Catalans lost further ground to the new league leaders Real Madrid, who temporarily left the previous leaders FC Girona behind with a 2-1 (0-0) win at UD Las Palmas. However, the surprise team can return to the top on Sunday with a success against relegation candidate Celta Vigo.
Gündoğan was involved in all the goals
Despite a strong performance from Gündoğan, Barcelona suffered their next serious setback in the championship. The Catalans fought back from a 2-0 deficit against FC Villarreal, only to lose 3-5 (0-1) after conceding two goals in stoppage time. Gündoğan was involved in all three of the hosts’ goals.
Barcelona, in third place, is now ten points behind its arch-rivals from Madrid. A catch-up effort against Villarreal wasn’t enough for the team. After the 2-0 deficit thanks to Gerard (41st minute) and Ilias Akhomach (54th), Gündoğan first scored the goal himself (60th). He played a key role in the two further goals by Pedri (68th) and an own goal by Eric Bailly (71st). However, that wasn’t enough to win points because the guests came back through Gonçalo Guedes (84th), ex-Leipzig player Alexander Sörloth (90th+9) and Moprales (90th+12).
The Royal team around national player Antonio Rüdiger and former world champion Toni Kroos, on the other hand, are at the top of the table with a two-point lead over surprise team FC Girona. The outsider can overtake them again on Sunday with a win at Celta Vigo. However, Madrid then played one game less.
The late victory in Gran Canaria was secured by midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, who headed a Kroos corner into the goal (84th minute). Previously, striker Vinícius Júnior (65′) had equalized the hosts’ lead through Javi Muñoz (53′). It was Real’s fifth league win in a row and the team has been unbeaten in the Primera División since September.