Since Real Madrid has already sealed the La Liga, the Catalan club is aiming to secure Champions League qualification for the next season as the second best team in Spain.
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Barcelona boss Xavi was “satisfied” with his side’s 2-1 La Liga win against Mallorca on Sunday night. Memphis Depay put the Blaugrana ahead mid-way through the first half before Sergio Busquets doubled the lead, after the break. Although Antonio Raiolla pulled one back for Mallorca, the Catalan club held on to secure all three points at Camp Nou and leapfrog Sevilla into the second spot. Since Real Madrid has already sealed the La Liga title after the 4-0 win against Espanyol on Saturday, Xavi’s side is aiming to secure Champions League qualification for the next season as the second best team in Spain. Barcelona, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, who occupy the 2nd,3rd and 4th position respectively are separated by just five points.
“Three points — crucial for us”
— Xavi after #BarçaMallorca pic.twitter.com/qu881ngYdR
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 2, 2022
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Real Madrid vs Espanyol: The Los Blancos win 4-0 to clinch 35th La Liga title
Xavi’s side came into the match on the back of a 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano and were winless in their last three home games, therefore desperately needed a good performance and three points on Sunday. The hosts started positively, and found the back of the net on 25 minutes. Depay controlled a beautiful overhead ball from Jordi Alba and volleyed home past Sergio Rico into the back of the net. Nine minutes into the second half, Busquets deposited the ball into the far bottom corner with a left-foot shot from just inside the box. The visitors halved the deficit through Antonio, who the captain got on the end of a long free-kick to slot home.
“I am satisfied with the win and the performance,” explained Xavi. “I think we played well, not excellently, but we dominated. It was a 3-0 game. We’d been on a bad run, especially at home, and it was important to win. The points are vital to be in the Champions League next season. There are five teams in the race and it has to be us. Real Madrid have already won the title. Congratulations to them, they are worthy winners because 38 games do not lie. Now it’s about winning that five-team mini-league, qualifying for the Champions League and finishing second. We should have won by more, but we complicated things for ourselves at the end. All week we spoke about minimising errors, not giving away corners or unnecessary free kicks, losing the ball. We have to be more mature in certain moments, but I am satisfied, we played well.”
The result helped Barcelona to 66 points from 34 games, 15 points adrift of the leaders Real Madrid and two points above second-placed Sevilla, who were held to a 1-1 draw against Cadiz on Saturday. Meanwhile, Atletico defeated Athletic club 2-0 to stay in the fourth spot. Fifth-placed Real Betis, who have a game in hand over the top-four, are just four points adrift of Atletico. With four more matchdays remaining, the top-four-race is heating up to say the least.
La Liga: Real Madrid notch hard-fought win as Atletico, Valencia also register wins
