Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez aims to vindicate Robert Lewandowski’s move to Camp Nou by avenging the first leg’s 2-0 loss to the Bavarians at Allianz Arena. Barcelona welcomes Bayern Munich in a crunch second-leg Champions League tie at Camp Nou later tonight, October 26.
Barcelona takes on Bayern Munich at Camp Nou in another mouth watery Champions League matchday five encounter.
The Catalans are teetering on the brink of being bundled out of the competition after a disappointing 3-3 draw in their last match against Inter Milan – a game that spelled doomed to every chance of progressing to the next round.
It was a six-goal thriller, but Inter Milan have gone on the lead twice, while Barcelona led once in a dramatic high-pitched game.
Despite dominating the game, cheap defensive errors dragged the game to a 3-3 draw, with the Catalans almost suffering a defeat save Robert Lewandowski’s stoppage-time header.
Barcelona had a full grasp of their fate before the Inter Milan game, but after the game, they now depend on the result between Inter Milan and the weeping boys in the group, Viktoria Pizen.
Inter Milan must slip against Viktoria Pizen if Barcelona must progress to the next round of the competition – an outcome that is not likely at the San Siro.
Nevertheless, the La Liga giants faces Bayern Munich in a crunch tie at Camp Nou.
The Catalans succumbed to a 2-0 defeat in the hands of the Bavarians at Allianz Arena despite dominating the game.
Xavi Hernandez will definitely be keeping an eye on the game between Inter Milan and Viktoria Pizen, but he is equally focused against Bayern Munich.
Even if the chances of making it to the round of 16 is very low, Xavi Hernandez is still optimistic about his team’s chances and is keen on getting all three points against the Bavarians at Camp Nou.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference, the former Barcelona player, turned coach said “It is a minimum chance and I am always optimistic, but when something doesn’t depend on you, you aren’t as positive. It’s logical.”
Apart from the slim chances of making it to the next round of the competition, this is a crunch tie for Xavi.
According to him, the match is also more of a revenge game for his team and for Robert Lewandowski.
“It’s a revenge match and for Roberto too,” he said.
Xavi Hernandez lost the first leg, Robert Lewandowski bashed
Xavi Hernandez had lost the first leg of the match when he traveled with his new talisman signing, Robert Lewandowski, to the Allianz Arena.
A defeat for the team was not a good one for the Poland international, who triggered his move away from the club to join the Catalans.
After the first leg win, Thomas Muller said, the win for Bayern Munich is a vindication for the Bavarians that they are still the best despite losing their top striker.
The defeat also means Robert Lewandowski must have made a wrong decision leaving a better team for the La Liga side, who have always struggled against Bayern Munich in European club competitions.
Hence, Xavi Hernandez will want his team to play for Robert Lewandowski too to vindicate the 33-year-old.
Xavi also has to prove a point in this game and convince the Barcelona management of his capacity to deliver the needed results after heavy spending last summer.
Although the team has improved and are strong contender for the La Liga title, the Catalans have struggled against big teams.
At Allianz Arena, Xavi came out with a disappointing 2-0 loss, despite dominating the game.
A two-legged Champions League tie against inter Milan ended in another disappointing result, with the team teetering on the brink of Europa League return.
They also ceded La Liga top spot to Real Madrid, losing the El-Clasico 3-1 in the La Liga.
Barcelona retuned to winning ways
Barcelona have raked in good results in their last two La Liga matches.
Victories at home over Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao, will boost the confidence of the team going into the game against Bayern Munich.
“We are motivated for tomorrow, to show what we can do,” Xavi said.
Xavi quickly pushed back the abysmal showing in the Champions League and the poor showing against arch-rivals Real Madrid to secure two big wins over La Liga top teams Villarreal and Atletico with convincing scorelines.
The wins were a perfect escape route after he recently came under pressure over the Champions League and the El-Clasico nightmare.
Winning the game against Bayern Munich will be a huge plus and morale booster for Xavi, even if the team still crashes out of the Champions League.
But the Spaniard is hopeful of Inter Milan slipping at the San Siro, and Barcelona win at Camp Nou.
It will not only avenge his earlier defeat and vindicate Lewandowski but will boost his credibility among the Blaugrana fans after a heavy summer spending.
