Barcelona

Barcelona extended their LaLiga lead to eight points thanks to second-half goals by Jordi Alba, Gavi and Raphinha that gave them a 3-0 home win against ...

I'm very happy and satisfied," coach Xavi Hernandez told DAZN. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story Barcelona have never lost a LaLiga title race when leading by eight points or more.

Barcelona appeared to troll Real Madrid with a photo of Xavi, after Carlo Ancelotti's side tasted defeat at the hands of Mallorca.

Xavi’s side are already leading the table by five points and have looked like the much better team in recent months, even getting a dominant win over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final. Everything that could have gone wrong for Real Madrid on the day, pretty much did. [1-0 defeat at the hands of Mallorca](https://www.espn.in/football/report/_/gameId/643963), to hand Barcelona the chance to go eight points clear at the top of the table when they take on Sevilla.

As Barcelona went eight points clear at the top of La Liga, it was one of the club's veterans who provided the telling touch of quality.

[The Athletic’s Spanish football coverage](https://theathletic.com/4064085/2023/01/09/barca-barcelona-real-madrid/) has expanded… [Barcelona 3-0 Sevilla: Player statistics, formations, xG](https://theathletic.com/football/game/barcelona-vs-sevilla/iQ4Cx9jJSOQSBI7L/) [Barcelona’s race against time to register Gavi — and the legal challenge they kept secret from La Liga](https://theathletic.com/4153499/2023/02/04/barcelona-gavi-la-liga-3/) [Champions League](https://theathletic.com/football/champions-league/) failure showed him that it would not happen. [Franck Kessie](https://theathletic.com/football/player/franck-kessie-tS5we285lQK8gbwK/)’s delightful flicked pass set him up, the midfielder pivoting on the edge of the box like an [NBA](https://theathletic.com/nba/) centre, waiting for the exact moment to unleash his team-mate. Simply put, he remains as important as ever, although Xavi has adapted his tactical plans to accommodate a four-man midfield that helps provide more cover for Busquets. A combined €37million (£33.1m; $39.9m) was spent on Lucas Digne and Junior Firpo, special requests from managers Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde respectively. He has four assists in La Liga and keeps growing with every game he plays. [Jordi Alba](https://theathletic.com/football/player/jordi-alba-yDquQHqgVj9SyecE/) found space in the box with one of his trademark overlaps, especially effective when the opponent is focused on blocking space inside the pitch. Now, though, the evolution of the season has seen their roles change. There was no agreement reached, and tensions reached a high point at the club’s general assembly in October. Victory against Sevilla, though, does not just elevate Barcelona to the status of favourites for this season’s La Liga title. Further scans will be done on Monday, but Busquets is already a serious doubt for the visit of

Barcelona clinch 3-0 victory thanks to 2nd-half goals at Spotify Camp Nou - Anadolu Agency.

[Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Barcelona increased their points to 53 in matchday 20 to go eight points clear at the top of the La Liga standings. Spanish La Liga leaders Barcelona beat Sevilla 3-0 at home to go eight points clear of Real Madrid on Sunday.

Barcelona moved to a comfy 8-point lead over Real Madrid on the LaLiga table after thrashing Sevilla on Sunday.

Raphinha completed the scoring himself after good work from [Frenkie de Jong](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/219022/Frenkie-de-Jong) and Alba. [Sergio Busquets](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/121893/Sergio-Busquets) earlier in the game. Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli on the result: "We held Barca off in the first half but in the second half we needed more. With [Manchester United](/soccer/team?id=360) in the Europa League around the corner -- and [Ousmane Dembele](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/229744/Ousmane-Dembélé) already injured -- they could do without losing any more players. [Sevilla](/soccer/team?id=243) could not stop him for a short period of the game. [Jordi Alba](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/121021/Jordi-Alba) opened the scoring just before the hour mark after good work from [Franck Kessie](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/194711/Franck-Kessié). After a first half in which they failed to break down a [Sevilla](/soccer/team?id=243) side that sat deep, [Barcelona](/soccer/team?id=83) opened the floodgates after the break. Xavi on Barcelona leading Real Madrid by eight points on the table: "It's not definitive, not at all, but we are in a privileged position. Both impressed against [Sevilla](/soccer/team?id=243), though, with performances would could signal a turning point in their Barca careers. He displayed nice footwork throughout the game, helped in defence and attack and produced a Ronaldinho-esque pass to set up Alba's goal. [Raphinha](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231050/Raphinha) created the second for [Gavi](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/323702/Gavi) and then added the third himself from Alba's cross to complete the scoring and extend Barca's winning streak in all competitions to seven games, their longest since the 2019-20 season. [Barcelona](/soccer/team?id=83) scored three times in 21 minutes in the second half as they beat relegation-troubled [Sevilla](/soccer/team?id=243) by [3-0 at Camp Nou on Sunday](/soccer/report/_/gameId/643967).

Barcelona ta ci gaba da jan ragamar teburin La Liga ta kuma bai wa Real Madrid tazarar maki takwas karo na biyu a kakar nan.

Karo takwas a baya da Barcelona ta ja ragamar teburin La Liga, bayan wasa 20 ta kuma bai wa Real Madrid tazarar maki takwas ko fiye da hakan, ita ce ta lashe kofin. Da yake Barcelona ta bai wa Real Madrid tazarar maki takwas, ko a iya cewa watakila kungiyar Camp Nou na turbar daular La Liga na kakar nan. Barcelona ta ci gaba da jan ragamar teburin La Liga ta bai wa Real Madrid tazarar maki takwas karo na biyu a kakar nan.

After Madrid's 1-0 loss at Mallorca, Barcelona extended its 10-game winning streak in all competitions with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sevilla on Sunday to ...

It was the third winless game for the Basque Country club after a nine-game winning streak in all competitions. Nacho went for a high cross and deflected the ball into his own net over goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who started in place of Courtois. It remained midtable with 28 points from 20 matches. It's a pity that we let three points get away.” Ancelotti also rested midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, who came on in the second half. It dropped to 16th place with the loss, two points from the drop zone.

Barcelona boss Xavi says his side are not favourites for the Liga title in 2022-23, but admits they could “win every title” available to them.

[decision to keep him at Camp Nou in January.](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/raphinha-barcelona-future-hint-transfer-interest-arsenal/blt790224130449176b) Xavi said of the former Leeds star: “I was already satisfied with Raphinha’s performances, even when he wasn’t scoring nor assisting. The euphoria is nice, but we have to be cautious.” Raphinha is starting to provide goals and assists. But we can’t only say it, we have to show it. Barca are now eight points clear at the top of the table, while also being through to the knockout play-off round of the Europa League and semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, with Xavi hoping that his team can continue to compete on multiple fronts this season. We have to avoid that at all costs.

Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets has sustained an ankle injury and will be unavailable to play until he recovers, the Spanish club said on Monday.

Barcelona have provided an update on condition of their captain Sergio Busquets who picked up an injury in their La Liga clash against Sevilla.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Busquets' injury comes as a huge blow for the Catalan giants who are due to face Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League knockout tie on February 15. [club statement](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3052021/sergio-busquets-has-sprained-ankle) read: "Tests on Monday morning have revealed that first team captain Sergio Busquets has sprained the external lateral ligament of his left ankle. The club have now released a statement where they revealed that the Spaniard sprained the external lateral ligament of his left ankle.

The league leaders are not yet made in Xavi's image but have ground out results with help from once-marginalised players.

[defender of the faith](https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/nov/06/xavi-heading-home-to-barcelona-in-chronicle-of-a-coaching-job-foretold), would like, the discourse not always entirely in tune with the reality, they have still had more of the ball than anyone else and conceded fewer shots than anyone else. In his absence on Sunday, Raphinha led them, getting closer with each goal: a pre-assist for the first, an assist for the second and a finish for the third as Barcelona won another match that wasn’t just another match. [and Villarreal](https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2023/jan/09/villarreal-find-their-level-after-setien-shock-to-see-off-real-madrid-la-liga) – but because that clásico defeat was Barcelona’s last in the league. [defeated at the Bernabéu](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jun/01/europeanfootball.sport), clawed back eight points on Madrid to [win the league](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/10/europeanfootball.sport) – and that was in just 12 weeks, let alone the 18 that remain now. Madrid’s fans oléd and [chanted for Xavi to stay](https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/oct/17/barcelona-real-madrid-knocking-on-wrong-doors-clasico-defeat-la-liga), convinced that he couldn’t compete with them. Besides, the stats still present a compelling case, and that was then and this is now. Unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions, 11 in La Liga, they have only dropped points three times: to Rayo, Madrid [and Espanyol](https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2023/jan/02/antonio-mateu-lahoz-plays-cards-wrong-catalan-derby-referee-barcelona-espanyol-la-liga). Alejandro Balde and Alba have shared the other side: “I’m not here to send messages to the manager,” Alba said on Sunday, as everyone wondered who this guy was. The TV wrap opened with a classic statement turned question: “ [Is there league](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/13/europeanfootball.sport1)?” As the presses rolled, the front of Sport and Marca – papers that could fight over whether it was sunny out – actually agreed: if there is, [Barcelona had delivered](https://twitter.com/sidlowe/status/1622561577659428864?s=20&t=k8mQEIHbFVccWZ0QXKLMaw.) it a “blow”. [3-1 in October](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/16/barcelona-real-madrid-clasico-la-liga-match-report), it felt like a non-event, a little flat, almost easy. Barcelona would have to lose three times, but that isn’t impossible and they have not always looked impenetrable. Earlier that afternoon, in a match with 43 fouls, where the player-on-floor stats were almost as high as the ball in play, Real Madrid were missing Karim Benzema, saw Thibaut Courtois get injured in the warm-up, scored an own goal, didn’t manage a shot on target except from a penalty (which they missed), finished with Antonio Rüdiger up front and Mariano on the pitch, and lost 1-0.

Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets is a major doubt to face Manchester United next week after the LaLiga leader confirmed he sprained his ankle against ...

Barca travels to Old Trafford the following week, before concluding this month's fixtures with a trip to Almeria in the league. Busquets was injured inside four minutes of Barca's 3-0 LaLiga win at Camp Nou on Monday (AEDT) after being caught by Youssef En-Nesyri and was substituted off soon after. The 34-year-old, who has played in 27 of Barcelona's 31 games this season, underwent a scan on Monday that revealed he has a lateral collateral ligament sprain in his left ankle.

Barcelona look set to be without Sergio Busquets for their crunch Europa League tie against Manchester United.The former Spain international suffered.

Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. [United](https://talksport.com/sport/football/team/113099/manchester-united/) are also not able to field their strongest side after [Christian Eriksen was injured in an FA Cup clash against Reading](https://talksport.com/football/fa-cup/1320985/christian-eriksen-injury-latest-manchester-united-premier-league-erik-ten-hag/) last month which will see him miss three months of action. The former Spain international suffered an injury against Sevilla at the weekend and had to be substituted, throwing his availability in doubt ahead of a huge month for the Catalan club. [Barcelona](https://talksport.com/sport/football/team/113060/fc-barcelona/) went on beat Sevilla 3-0 after goals from Jordi Alba, Gavi and Raphinha, but Xavi now looks set to be without one of his most experienced stars against United.

The defensive midfielder has sustained an ankle injury and will be unavailable to play until he recovers, the Spanish club said on Monday. Busquets sprained ...

Barcelona are already without Ousmane Dembele for the first leg against United after the winger suffered a thigh muscle injury in the win over Girona last month. Busquets sprained ligaments in his left ankle making a challenge early in Sunday's 3-0 home win over Sevilla which extended the Catalan club's lead at the top of the [He sprained ligaments in his left ankle during Sunday's home win over Sevilla](/sport/football/article-11716197/Barcelona-3-0-Sevilla-LaLiga-leaders-eight-points-clear-second-placed-Real-Madrid.html)