Real Madrid all but confirmed that they will be lifting the La Liga title this season with their 3-2 El Clasico win over FC Barcelona. It was a thrilling game of football that saw the momentum shift on numerous occasions. Xavi's had the lead twice but could not find a way to hold on and ultimately, a stoppage time goal from Jude Bellingham ended up deciding the match. Even more impressive is the fact that this result came days after the brilliant win over Manchester City in the Champions League.
Barcelona will feel that luck was not on their side on the day though. The 'ghost goal' incident from the game is set to be debated and discussed for a long time to come.
Of course, there is no point dwelling on it for either side. But it is quite clear that Barcelona were not happy with how things turned out in the Spanish capital.
Xavi was not afraid to let his feelings be known in the media. As reported by ESPN, the Barcelona manager said after the game
"It's embarrassing that there is not goal-line technology. If we want to say this is the best league in the world, we need it.
"Everyone has seen it. What can I say? [The league] can sanction me. The images are there. The feeling today is of complete injustice."
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti disagrees with Xavi's claim
Ancelotti, who was on the winning side of the equation, did not seem to agree with Xavi though. As reported by Forbes, the Real Madrid manager said
"I don't want to comment on what Xavi thinks. Everyone is free [to think what they want]. It was a difficult and well-played, high-level match. I don't think the goal was a goal, because there's no clear image [of it]. And the penalty [on Lucas Vazquez] I think is clear."
The result means that Real Madrid are now 11 points clear at the top of the La Liga table with just six more games left to be played this season. Thus, they pretty much have a free run at the trophy and it would take a miracle for them to not win it from here.
With the league title race not exactly tight, it will allow Real Madrid to focus most of their energy on the Champions League as well. Having eliminated Manchester City from the competition, they have to be considered as the favourites to go on and win it from here.