Barcelona vs Eintracht Frankfurt: 'La Liga is not far behind Premier League,' says Barca boss Xavi after Real Madrid and Villarreal show

The Los Blancos got the better of Chelsea 5-4 on aggregate while Villarreal secured a historic 2-1 win over two legs against six-time champions Bayern Munich to make it to the Champions League last-4.

Barcelona head coach Xavi; Credit: Twitter/@FCBarcelona
By Sreejith C R | Apr 13, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Barcelona head coach Xavi says “La Liga is not far behind the Premier League” after Real Madrid and Villarreal qualified for the semi-finals of Champions League on Tuesday. The Los Blancos got the better of Chelsea 5-4 on aggregate while Villarreal secured a historic 2-1 win over two legs against six-time champions Bayern Munich to make it to the final four for only the second time in their history. It was a remarkable night for Spanish football and it could get even better if Atletico Madrid can overturn a one goal deficit against Manchester City on Wednesday.

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Meanwhile Barcelona, who were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage have pulled their socks up and are aiming for a place in the last-4 of the Europa League when they host Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-final second leg tie on Thursday.   

“What happened on Tuesday shows that LaLiga is not far behind the Premier League,” Xavi told a news conference.

“No matter what, LaLiga will always be LaLiga and it’s very competitive. I saw both games. I am a soccer fan. And in the end our main goal is to be back in the Champions League.

“By the way, Villarreal are a big club now, aren’t they? You all should put them on your big clubs list.”

Barca were held to a 1-1 draw against the German club in the first leg and the winner of the second leg at Camp Nou will face either West Ham or Lyon in the semi-finals. Xavi’s side is going through an impressive run of form having not tasted defeat in their last 15 games and haven’t conceded a goal in their last four domestic games at home. 

Our history is our biggest pressure and responsibility: Xavi

The Catalan club is currently placed second in the La Liga standings, 12 points adrift of the leaders Real Madrid and therefore Europa League is their only realistic chance of lifting a trophy this season. 

However, Xavi denied there was pressure on his side to win silverware due to Real’s form.

“It is the history of Barca that demands of us, not Madrid,’ the Spanish coach said. ‘We do not look at Real Madrid to mirror ourselves. Our history is our biggest pressure and responsibility.

“Since (former player and coach) Johan Cruyff came, he set a bar for himself. Win by playing well. This is how we Catalans are. This is how we live it. I don’t know how it is in Madrid. Madrid has a spectacular competitive gene, but Barca is another story.”