Xavi makes honest Real Madrid claim after losing El Clasico

Real Madrid walked out with a 3-1 victory over Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the campaign. Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo were on the mark for Los Blancos while Ferran Torres managed to get the consolation for Xavi’s side. Coming into the game, this was built up as a really tight affair, but in reality, it did not really turn out to be that close of a contest.

Real Madrid were very much in control for the most part and while a late goal from Barcelona put them under some pressure, they eventually got the third through Rodrygo and put the game to bed.

For the first time in his run as Barcelona manager, Xavi might be feeling the pressure. In midweek, he saw his side go on the verge of Champions League group stage elimination after drawing 3-3 vs Inter Milan. And then, he lost the El Clasico at the weekend.

Barcelona must have been expecting much more following the signings of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Marcos Alonso and Hector Bellerin in the summer.

Xavi makes honest Real Madrid claim after Barcelona lose El Clasico

As reported by The Score, Xavi said in a press conference after the El Clasico:

"“They beat us on maturity, in knowing how to compete.“We competed worse than our opponents, that’s why we lost the game. They are a team that’s more mature than ours at this moment.”"

Real Madrid are certainly a team who have been there and done that on multiple occasions, despite the fact that they have several youngsters as well. Thus, in terms of experience, they are certainly ahead of Barcelona.

But that is not the only reason that they won against Barcelona either. In terms of quality on the pitch, they looked a notch above the Catalan giants as well and nobody can question that they were deserving winners on this occasion.

Barcelona have a long way to go if they are to compete with Real Madrid on a consistent basis, in Spain or in Europe.