Friday, 5th October, 2012
Xavi believes that if Barcelona can beat Real Madrid in Sunday’s Clasico then they would inflict a crushing blow on Los Blancos.
Barcelona have started the new La Liga season in blistering form, playing six games and winning all six so far.
relatedNewsStory Were the Catalan giants able to beat Real Madrid, they would have won seven from seven and, combined with the lacklustre league start from Jose Mourinho’s men which featured defeats to Getafe and Sevilla, would put eleven points between the two clubs.
Even at such an early stage of the season such a lead would be hard for Real Madrid to overcome and that is a fact of which Barcelona are well aware.
"We have to have the ball, not change our philosophy of play, to avoid Madrid being able to attack, believe in winning and believe in ourselves", said Xavi.
"It would be a tremendous blow to morale.
"It would be our seventh straight win, and eleven points ahead of Madrid."
Both teams come into the clash at the Camp Nou on the back of Champions League victories.
Barcelona beat Benfica 2-0 in Lisbon, although suffered a blow with Carles Puyol picking up an injury which will see him miss the Clasico.
Real Madrid meanwhile visited Holland to play Ajax, leaving with a 4-1 victory.
Read our Barcelona v Real Madrid Betting Preview.
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