Xavi has accused Real Madrid of benefitting from referee decisions after their comeback win against Almeria and insists it will be ‘very difficult’ for Barcelona to win La Liga this season.
Madrid looked on course to suffer a shock defeat at home on Sunday afternoon as bottom-of-the-league Almeria were 2-0 ahead by half time. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side, with the help of three debatable VAR calls, sealed a 3-2 victory with Dani Carvajal scoring the winner in the ninth minute of injury time.
The result keeps Madrid seven points clear of Barcelona, who sealed a 4-2 win away to Real Betis on Sunday evening.
Speaking after his side’s defeat to Madrid, Almeria midfielder Gonzalo Melero claimed his side were ‘robbed’ at the Santiago Bernabeu.
‘It pains me to say it, but there’s no other way to take it. And that’s not the first this year. What happened today went beyond all limits, it was unbelievable,’ he said.
‘Nothing more could have been done for them to win the game.’
When asked about the controversy in Madrid’s win over Almeria, Barcelona head coach Xavi said: ‘I’ve seen it.
‘I stick with [Gaizka] Garitano’s [Almeria head coach] words and [Alfredo] Relano’s [Spanish journalist] reflection. That’s the good one, the correct one. Very good journalist.
‘If we speak up they sanction us, but everyone has seen it.
‘It’s going to be very difficult to win this league, I said it in Getafe, that there were things that didn’t suit me.
‘Let’s keep working, and as far as we can. There are things that we don’t control, everyone has seen it today.
‘I remember in Getafe, the penalty in Vallecas against Raphinha, Joao’s goal in Granada… these are situations that we would take six more points.
‘In the end they are not excuses, it is the reality. Situations in the 95th minute that come up against us. Today we have to talk about the team’s game, satisfied, continue on the path.’
