Pressure on Xavi as Barcelona bow to Real Madrid

More pressure is now on Xavi Hernandez as Real Madrid leapfrogged Barcelona at the summit of LaLiga on Sunday.

Goals from Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde, and Rodrygo sealed a 3-1 triumph for Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.

Barca had conceded just one goal in eight league games this season prior to the visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, but two clinical finishes from Benzema and Valverde saw them two goals down at the interval.

Xavi’s side pulled one back with seven minutes remaining through Ferran Torres, but the hosts restored their two-goal advantage in stoppage time courtesy of Rodrygo’s penalty.

The result marked Barca’s first league defeat of the campaign, with victory for Los Blancos moving them three points clear of their great rivals at the top of the table.