SPAIN: BARCELONA RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

Barcelona are back to winning ways following the 1-0 away win over Real Sociedad on Thursday night. Xavi Hernandez and his players have been able to return to winning ways after a run of two straight defeats in all competitions.

Club legend Xavi has done a very good job since taking charge of the first team at Barcelona last year. The 2010 FIFA World Cup winner was given the job as the permanent manager at the Nou Camp after Dutchman Ronald Koeman was sacked after an average start to the season. With the help of a few signing during the January transfer window, Xavi Hernandez has been able to transform the fortunes of the Catalan giants until the last two matches before the trip to Anoeta to take on Real Sociedad.

 

Xavi Hernandez and his Barcelona players were on a run of 15 games without defeat in all competitions before they ended on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League. The Catalan giants were beaten 3-2 by 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt thereby exiting the competition via a 4-3 aggregate scoreline after the first leg in Germany ended in a 1-1 draw.

 

Barcelona were heavy favorites to win the Europa League title this season before they were eliminated by German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarterfinals. The Germans will now take on Premier League outfit West Ham United in one of the semifinals, while the other semifinal would be contested between another German team in RB Leipzig and Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers.

 

For Xavi Hernandez and his Barcelona players, the 3-2 loss at home to Frankfurt last week Thursday was followed by the 1-0 loss at home to Cadiz in the league on Sunday. But, they are back on track now after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winning goal in the 11^thminute to lead Barcelona to a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad.