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Barcelona seeks Champions League knockout spot against Shakhtar amidst inconsistency

Posted : 06 November 2023
Barcelona has an opportunity to secure a place in the Champions League knockout rounds as they face Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday in Hamburg, following two challenging years in the group stage. A fourth consecutive victory in Group H would guarantee their progress, a feat they haven't achieved since 2021. Despite improvements under Xavi, both in LaLiga and Europe, Barcelona has struggled to consistently display the brilliance they aspire to.
 
While Barcelona had some high points, such as consecutive 5-0 wins over Real Betis and Royal Antwerp in September, they have been unable to maintain that level of play consistently. In their previous encounter with Shakhtar, despite dominating the first half, they failed to seal the game, leading to a close 2-1 win as the Ukrainians pushed for an equalizer.
 
Xavi's style of play differs significantly from Barcelona's peak under Pep Guardiola or their dynamic, swashbuckling performances during their 2015 Champions League win under Luis Enrique. The coach acknowledged that it's challenging to replicate the dominance of his playing days but stressed the team's commitment to strive for it.
 
Xavi expressed his dissatisfaction with Barcelona's flat performance against Real Sociedad, particularly their lack of intensity, which he deemed unacceptable. However, he emphasized the importance of champion teams finding ways to win even when not playing well.
 
The return of midfielder Pedri from injury is expected to bring more fluency to Barcelona's game, according to Xavi. Robert Lewandowski's return from injury and potential tactical adjustments may further boost Barcelona's performance, as Xavi seeks a more consistent system. By securing qualification with two matches to spare, the coach aims to prepare the team for more challenging fixtures in the later stages of the Champions League.
 
 

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