Xavi Hernandez says Barcelona’s 5-0 victory over Real Madrid in November 2010 was a more complete performance than the club’s famous 6-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in May 2009.
Both matches hold a special place in Barcelona’s history, but the former midfielder believes the display at Camp Nou, against a Real Madrid side managed by Jose Mourinho, was superior in terms of football and control.
Speaking in comments reported by Spanish newspaper Sport, Xavi acknowledged the significance of the 6-2 success but said the later match reached an even higher level.
“The 2-6 was a perfect match, but this game surpassed it in terms of the way we played,” he said. “The feeling was wonderful, with a great deal of superiority.”
Barcelona produced a dominant performance in November 2010, with Xavi opening the scoring. Pedro then added a second before David Villa scored twice and Jeffren completed the five-goal victory.
The result remains one of the most memorable occasions for Barcelona supporters, particularly because of the team’s sustained control against Real Madrid throughout the match.
Xavi said the 6-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu had been a defining moment in the 2008-09 La Liga title race. However, he felt the 5-0 result carried an additional significance because of the collective quality and authority Barcelona showed from start to finish.
The match was also among the most distinctive experiences of Xavi’s playing career. He recalled the reaction inside the dressing room after the final whistle and described the emotional impact of beating Barcelona’s main rivals so comprehensively.
“When you win in that way, it is difficult to sleep,” Xavi said. “You wake up happy and at the height of euphoria. It is a day that makes you happy to be a Barcelona player.”
The midfielder’s preference comes as attention turns to whether either of those remarkable scorelines could be repeated in the next meeting between the two clubs. Regardless of that outcome, Xavi considers the 2010 victory the finest of the two because of the quality of Barcelona’s play and the level of dominance they imposed at Camp Nou.