Xavi wants clean Clasico

Xavi Hernandez is expecting Barcelona to face one of their toughest challenges when they go up against an in-form Real Madrid on Saturday.

Reigning champions Barca trail Real by three points in La Liga, and have also played one match more than the league leaders.

The two teams met five times last season in the league, Copa del Rey and Champions League, with several matches turning into spiteful affairs.

Xavi was critical of what he perceived to be strong-arm tactics from Real in those matches.

But the experienced midfielder believes a confident Real will prove far more adventurous this season.

“I was critical when they played against us before because they played a style of football which wasn’t their usual attacking way, which we normally see in all of their games,” Xavi said.

“Against us they played in a very defensive way but this season it seems different. We saw that in the Supercopa when they took us on. I imagine that on Saturday it will be the same.”

“They are playing at home and I imagine they see themselves as being strong. I reckon it will be a very physical game where they will try and press and open us up. That is how I see it.”

“That is why I say in the past I don’t think Madrid were at their level against Barcelona, or not at the level they wanted to be at. However, to be honest, I now think they are really very good.”

The Champions League semi-final first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu was arguably the most ill-tempered of the team’s fiery clashes last season.

Real centre-back Pepe was shown a red card and his coach Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands.

Xavi hopes the teams will avoid creating similar controversy in Saturday’s match.

“I really hope that this time we can see a game of football, and that at the end of the game we only talk about football – how one team played, how the other team played and that it ends up being a spectacle,” he said.

“The referee and his officials will, in many ways, decide that.”

“In truth, I hope that at the end of the 90 minutes we have had a spectacular game and everyone just talks about that.”

“Disappointingly, in the last few encounters, there has been more talk about refereeing decisions, and about fouls and foul play.”

“This is shameful for football, because I would prefer that we only talk about the game.”