Xavi compares Pedri to Iniesta, hails Dembele showing against Athletic

Barcelona head coach Xavi compared Pedri to Blaugrana legend Andreas Iniesta, while he hailed the performance of Ousmane Dembele against Athletic Bilbao.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s fourth goal in his past two LaLiga appearances put the Catalan side in control against Athletic on Sunday, before a late flurry added deserved gloss to the scoreline.

Substitute Dembele, whose future remains in doubt after failing to agree to an extension on a contract that expires at the end of the season, scored one and assisted two more for substitutes Luuk de Jong and the fit-again Memphis Depay.

With those involvements, Dembele become the first Barca substitute to play a part in at least three goals in a single LaLiga game in the 21st century.

After moving back into LaLiga’s top four with a 4-0 success, Xavi reserved special praise for midfielder Pedri and Dembele.

“How [Pedri] understands the game, it’s wonderful to watch him play,” Xavi told reporters. “He reminds me a lot of Andres Iniesta, I haven’t seen many talents like that.

“I see many scenarios for Dembele, we have seen the Dembele that we want and know he is capable of doing.”

Asked whether the France international will stay at the club, Xavi added: “That is no longer my thing, I have always said that he has been very professional.”

3 – @Auba is the first #LaLiga African player to score three games in a row in all competitions (five goals) since Youssef En-Nesyri for Sevilla in March 2021. Predator@FCBarcelona #BarcaAthletic pic.twitter.com/znJ7rd5WfT

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 27, 2022

Barca sit level on points with Atletico Madrid, who ran out 2-0 victors against Celta Vigo on Saturday, and moved just one shy of third-placed Real Betis after they fell to Sevilla.

The Blaugrana still boast a game in hand over their fellow top-four contenders and Xavi refused to give up hope on any possible outcome in LaLiga.

“The feelings are getting better and better,” he continued. “The team is training very well, that’s why the results come.

“We have worked very well and it has paid off against a team that has a very good middle and low block and that defended very well.

“Even with the [seven] changes they made, they are a strong team. Putting four goals past Athletic is not easy at all, Marcelino’s teams are always very hard-working and difficult.

“We’re fourth, we’ll go for third, then second and if it reaches us we’ll go for first. You have to be realistic and humble and keep working day by day, nothing more.”

Barca have lost just one of their past 15 top-flight fixtures and will look to continue their impressive run of form when they visit Elche next Sunday.