With another meeting between the two Spanish giants approaching, former Barcelona midfielder Xavi has chosen the club’s 5-0 victory over Real Madrid in November 2010 as his greatest win against their historic rivals.
The former Spain international said the performance at Camp Nou surpassed Barcelona’s celebrated 6-2 triumph at Santiago Bernabeu in May 2009, even though both matches remain among the most memorable in the club’s history.
In comments reported by Spanish newspaper Sport, Xavi described the 6-2 success as “perfect” but said the scale of Barcelona’s control and quality in the 5-0 win gave it the edge.
“The 2-6 match was perfect, but this match surpassed it in terms of the way we played, and the feeling was wonderful with a great superiority,” said Xavi.
The 5-0 victory came during an outstanding Barcelona display against a Real Madrid side managed by Jose Mourinho. Xavi opened the scoring before Pedro, David Villa – who scored twice – and Jeffren completed the rout.
It was one of the defining matches between the clubs, with Barcelona dominating from the start and producing a performance that remains particularly important to their supporters.
Xavi also acknowledged the significance of the 6-2 result, which came at Santiago Bernabeu in May 2009 and proved a major turning point in the race for the La Liga title. However, he said the later victory carried a special meaning because of Barcelona’s collective performance and sustained dominance throughout the match.
The midfielder recalled the reaction inside the dressing room after the final whistle, describing the emotional impact of such a comprehensive win.
“When you win in this way, you find it difficult to sleep. You wake up happy and at the height of euphoria. It is a day that makes you happy to be a Barcelona player,” he said.
Barcelona’s 5-0 success was achieved in November 2010, with Xavi’s goal setting the tone for a night in which they comprehensively outplayed Real Madrid. Their 6-2 victory, two years earlier at the Bernabeu, had already established itself as a landmark result, but Xavi believes the quality of the football in the 5-0 match made it the superior performance.
