‘Going to Santiago Bernabeu generally turns me on’: Barcelona manager Xavi expresses in front of Copa del Rey conflict

Barcelona will be missing three key stars when they head to the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday to play the principal leg of the Copa del Rey elimination rounds. Yet, Barcelona mentor Xavi is savoring the possibility of confronting their most despised rivals.

“Going to Santiago Bernabeu generally turns me on,” Xavi said at his pre-match question and answer session on Wednesday. “I might want to play. I’d very much want to! It’s an extraordinary inclination and that is the reason I let my players know that they must be courageous. We are in a decent circumstance. We have the chance to bring home a championship. It is a valuable chance to respond. We will go on a mission to win and show our character,” he added.

Barca right now lead Genuinely by seven in the La Liga standings. Yet, they have gotten through a scoring droop off late, because of wounds to central members like Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembélé and Pedri. Between it, the threesome has scored 40 objectives for Barcelona this season, with 25 coming from Lewandowski, Dembélé nettign eight and seven coming from Pedri.

Lewandowski is out with a hamstring strain that he supported in the 1-0 loss to Almería on Sunday, while Pedri and Dembélé are out with muscle wounds.

Xavi proceeded to say that Genuine Madrid will begin as top choices.

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“It might really work out for us winning on Thursday at Santiago Bernabeu. Yet, we are confronting an incredible opponent… they are the top picks.”