Xavi: We go for the victory against Real

Emerging Barcelona central midfielder Xavi Hernández has revealed his side will be entering the massive weekend clash with Real Madrid with one objective: to take three points home from the Bernabeu.

The 21-year old playmaker, who has admirably filled the boots of departed skipper Pep Guardiola, said he respects the potency Spanish champions’ attack, but explained that the Catalans have ample firepower of their own and will be looking to take advantage of Real’s current lack of convincing form.

"We are in good form at the moment, while they are not and this is important," Xaxi told the club’s official website www.fcbarcelona.com. "We must go there to win and hope that we come home with the three points."

"Allthough we must respect their three-pronged attack of Zidane, Figo and Raúl you shouldn’t forget ours. There are always footballers who can make the difference, and let’s hope that Kluivert,Rivaldo and Saviola have the last say in the Bernabeu."

Xavi admitted he is not about the pressure of the highly anticipated match-up, and reasoned that the pressure would be most felt by the Madridistas, who could find themselves 9 points behind their archrivals with an adverse result on Sunday.

"I have already played in a number of these matches and believe they are one-off affairs," Xavi explained. "The atmosphere and tension will be incredible and it will be an important match for all the players and myself."

"It’s normal that people have been talking about Mardid-Barca for over a month now, but I believe, while we will be calm, they will be under pressure as they are six points behind."

The diminutive midfielder is also pleased to have settled into a significant role in coach Carles Rexach’s set-up and says that the faith in him shown by the club, in turn, has heightened his own sense of contribution to Barcelona’s good form.

"The truth is that I feel at home in the team. We are playing well, the team plays as a team and the players and technical staff have faith in me. Playing regularly gives me a much better chance of playing and achieving more than I did last year. This year I feel important and this is good both for the team and myself."

Finally, Xavi gave his assessment of the inevitable comparisons between him and Guardiola.

"Although I am well used to the world’s press comparing me to him, I will always be Pep’s replacement. I am of the opinion that if the press has forgotten about him it must be down to the team doing well both on and off the field."