Xavi's first full season ends in glory

Barca secure first league title in four years, but off-field issues dominate the headlines in Spain

At times during the 2022-23 La Liga campaign – and especially since the turn of the year – there has been more noise off the pitch than on it and, even as we enter the summer months, dark clouds still hang over Spanish football.

The Caso Negreira scandal, which surfaced in February but remains under investigation, could still have major ramifications for Barcelona, while the racist abuse suffered by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior overshadowed the final weeks of the campaign. Even Barca’s title-clinching victory over city rivals Espanyol in May was marred by home supporters invading the pitch and chasing the newly-crowned champions down the tunnel, while the debate over whether the away side had “provoked” their rivals by gleefully dancing around the centre circle rumbles on between both sets of supporters.

Nonetheless, Xavi’s first full campaign in charge at the Camp Nou ended with Barcelona’s first league title since 2018-19, his main objective before a ball had been kicked.

“With this squad, we must win La Liga,” he said in August ahead of the opening game, in a clip that was only recently made public. “This year, it cannot slip. Every game is a f****** war. We must give our all, for those who don’t play, for the badge we represent, because it’s a privilege to be here.

“We must die on the pitch. Let’s win titles, especially La Liga.”

That game, against Rayo Vallecano, ended in a drab 0-0 draw as Sergio Busquets received his first league red card since 2009 and just the second across 452 appearances. But it was followed by seven consecutive wins in which Barca conceded just once.