Xavi explains what is 'killing' Barcelona this season

Xavi has admitted that defensive errors are "killing" Barcelona's hopes of retaining their La Liga title this season.

Barca fell ten points adrift of Real Madrid on Sunday thanks to a dramatic 3-3 draw with Granada at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, with Xavi's side having to come from behind on two occasions and rely on a brace from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal to salvage a point.

It was the fifth time in 2024 that Barcelona have conceded three of more goals in a game, taking their tally of goals conceded for the calendar year to 23 already - more than any other club in Europe's top five leagues.

Speaking about Barcelona's issues in the defensive third, Xavi admitted the errors are "killing" any hope they have of winning La Liga.

"We gave away too much defensively. We conceded three goals against Villarreal; then again today. That makes it difficult to win anything," explained Xavi.

"We have to minimise the amount of mistakes. Defensive errors mark the season. There are many goals conceded, due to defensive errors. Defensive errors are killing us. It was the same in the draw at Granada earlier in the campaign."

The form shown by Barcelona's defence is even more startling when you consider just how watertight they were last season. During the 2022/23 title-winning campaign, La Blaugrana conceded a measly 20 goals in 38 league games - 13 less than they've shipped in 14 fewer games so far in 2023/24.

When asked about what has changed, Xavi replied: "It's sport. Form changes, a loss of players, players that have not been able to play together...concentration errors.

"We have done a lot of good things to win many games, but these mistakes in defence are the difference in points between us and Madrid and Girona."

Xavi's Barcelona will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they face off against a struggling Celta Vigo side on Saturday.

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