Xavi reveals what led to Barcelona’s demise against Real Madrid

The LaLiga leaders are out of the Copa del Rey after crashing to a shocking 4-0 home defeat to their bitter rivals.

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez feels his side paid dearly for not winning ‘moments’ in Wednesday’s 4-0 romping by Real Madrid.

The second-leg loss saw Barcelona crash out of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. They started the game strong, with a 1-0 aggregate lead. But by the final whistle, they were thoroughly dismantled in a disastrous night of football.

Vinicius Junior put Real Madrid ahead in the first period before Karim Benzema sent Barca packing with a stunning second-half hat-trick.

“It is a difficult night to digest. This is football,” Xavi told Movistar+.

“You have to compete better. We competed well until 1-0. They are moments that we have to stop. We could have also stopped the 2-0 moment. In short, they are details that we have to control.

“In the first half we were very good, but that’s what I said: football is about moments and we didn’t take advantage of them.

“When football is so even, you have to take advantage of the moments. We didn’t do it in the first half and they did in the second. They have been superior, no excuses.”

Xavi added: “When you don’t kill Madrid, they kill you.”

Barcelona will now turn their attention to Monday’s Catalan derby at home to Girona in LaLiga.