Super Cup semifinal: Xavi hopeful Osasuna clash can prove another Barca turning point

Xavi’s Barca, the Spanish champion, is languishing in third place in La Liga this season, seven points behind leader Real Madrid and Girona at the half-way point.

Barcelona, record 14-time Spanish Super Cup winner, lifted the trophy last season in Saudi Arabia, its first silverware under Xavi, and it was a key moment to prove his project was progressing. | Photo Credit: AFP

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said Wednesday he hopes a potential Spanish Super Cup triumph can create an important turning point in his team’s season again.

The Spanish champion is languishing in third place in La Liga, seven points behind leader Real Madrid and Girona at the half-way point.

Barcelona faces Osasuna in Riyadh in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal on Thursday, ahead of a potential showdown against Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s final.

Barcelona, record 14-time Spanish Super Cup winner, lifted the trophy last season in Saudi Arabia, its first silverware under Xavi, and it was a key moment to prove his project was progressing.

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“I hope (it can be a turning point), I hope we find consistency,” Xavi told a news conference.

“We respect Osasuna a lot, evidently we are favourites -- it’s win or lose, a knock-out game, we need to show that we want to be in the final. Last year it was perfect for us, it gave us confidence and stability.”

After returning to Spain, the Catalans went on to win 10 of their next 11 league games on their way towards lifting La Liga.

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo also believes winning the Super Cup again could prove important to turn around a disappointing campaign so far.

“Last year the Super Cup was a turning point, we want it to be the same this year -- it’s a trophy and we want to win it,” said the Uruguayan centre-back.

Defensively the Catalans have struggled this year which is in stark contrast to last season’s league success which was based on their superb back-line.

Barcelona has conceded 22 goals in La Liga at the half-way stage of the season after shipping only 20 in the whole of the 2022-23 campaign.

“(We need) to be more effective in both boxes, in defence and attack, to concede fewer goals,” continued Araujo.

“We’re working to correct errors in defence, it’s something that helped us a lot last season, letting in few goals.”

Araujo has been linked with a transfer to the German champion Bayern Munich in recent weeks in media reports, but said he was only thinking about Barcelona.

“Rumours always come out in transfer windows, I’m focussed on Barca and I prove it every time I put this shirt on,” said the 24-year-old.

Real Madrid faces Atletico on Wednesday in the first Super Cup semifinal.