Reporter Han Bing reported that the Spanish national derby in the early morning of March 21, Beijing time, will be Xavi's "first" - appearing in the La Liga national derby as a manager. As a player, Harvey has played in 42 national derbies and is just three games away from record holders Ramos and Messi. With 38 starts, 4 substitutions, 17 wins, 12 draws and 13 defeats, 5 goals and 10 assists, the national derby of Xavi's player era is shining, not only for himself, but also for Barcelona fans – including the one at the Santiago Bernabeu 18 years ago.
In 2003/04, the first season in which Laporta was elected president, Barca also lost hopes of winning the title in the first half, but after introducing Davis in the winter window, they played the most impressive second half of La Liga. When Rijkaard's Barça challenged the Santiago Bernabeu after a 15-game unbeaten run, it was the young Xavi who picked out the shot to complete the shoot-out, allowing Barca, who was troubled at home and abroad, to gain key morale and confidence. Although the team eventually lost to Valencia by 5 points, it gave the team great motivation and laid the foundation of the "Dream Team II".
Before the national derby, Barca coach Xavi admitted that this season's Barca situation is very similar to that of 2004, and it is also the bottoming out after winning new signings in the winter window, ushering in the Battle of the Bernabeu after 11 Unbeaten in La Liga. Moreover, there is still hope for Barca to win the Europa League, which is better than that year.
Xavi's most recent national derby memories as a player were in March 2015 at Camp Nou, where Barca beat Real Madrid 2-1, but he played only 10 minutes in that game. That season, Barca won the treble thanks to Xavi's efforts.
At the Santiago Bernabeu, Harvey's national derby memories are generally good, 20 times stepping on the lawn of the Bernabeu Stadium, And The Barca of the Harvey era won 8, drew 6 and lost 6. In the 2008/09 season, at the Bernabeu, Barca played a classic 6-2 match, and Xavi staged his only assist in his lifetime.
This round of the Spanish national derby is the 249th meeting between Real Madrid and Barcelona, and in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in January, Real Madrid won in extra time, and the previous four league national derbies, Real Madrid won all. The last time Barca beat Real Madrid in the national derby was in March 2019, 1-0.
It is worth mentioning that this national derby will be an extremely rare "double away jersey" matchup. To commemorate the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Real Madrid club and the 20th anniversary of Adidas' collaboration with famous designer Yohji Yamamoto, a black commemorative edition jersey was specially launched for the national derby. Barca wears a yellow away shirt with red diagonal stripes, and neither team wears a home shirt familiar to fans, which may make everyone a little uncomfortable.
The good news for Xavi is, of course, that the team has made significant progress on the offensive end after the winter window, with new signings Aubameyang, Traore and Ferran Torres coming in quickly, with Barca scoring 27 goals in the last 10 games.
Although Umtiti, Roberto, Deste and Ansu Fati are all absent due to injury, the return of defensive leader Pique is clearly good for Barca. Veteran Alves did not play in the Europa League knockout rounds, but the national derby will be his 400th game in a Barca shirt, behind Messi (778 games), the second most appearances in Barca's history. Alves is Barca's national derby, he has played in 46 national derbies, Barca has a record of 22 wins, 7 draws and 17 losses, including 10 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses in the national derby in La Liga.
Ancelotti's Real Madrid have been equally outstanding, leading Barca by as many as 15 points in La Liga and having just reversed Paris to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti has beaten Barca twice this season, with a league win over Koeman and a Top League defeat to defeat Xavi.
Benzema is in fantastic form, scoring 32 goals in 34 appearances this season, tying his personal best in 2011/12. He has scored 11 goals in 38 national derbys, but he is currently injured and Ancelotti fears that letting him continue to play could recreate the slump in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
Will Barca, which is almost recreating the situation of 18 years ago in every way, really replicate the miracle of 18 years ago under the leadership of Xavi? At that time, the young Harvey started from the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and created the "Dream Team II" with Rijkaard and Luo Xiao, can he now lay the foundation for Barca's future "Dream Four Team" in the same venue?