Xavi vs Carlo Ancelotti: Complete head-to-head record

Rivalries don’t come much grander than Barcelona vs Real Madrid. El Clasico remains one of the feistiest games in the world, but the same can often be said of the dugouts.

Tensions were arguably at their highest during Pep Guardiola’s days in charge at Camp Nou, with the Spaniard’s war of words with then Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho always adding extra spice to an already tasty affair.

While the current iteration of the derby doesn’t share quite the same bitterness between coaches, Xavi and Carlo Ancelotti still know just how significant a Clasico is in Spain.

The two coaches have met frequently in recent instalments of this famous rivalry. Here is how Xavi and Ancelotti have fared in games against one another.

The first clash between Xavi and Ancelotti came in early 2022 in the recently expanded Supercopa de Espana. Held in Saudi Arabia and contested between four teams, the new iteration of the Spanish Super Cup has led to more frequent clashes between Barcelona and Real Madrid since 2019/20.

On this occasion, the Clasico was played in the semi-final, a match that Real Madrid won 3-2 in dramatic fashion. Ansu Fati took the game to extra time with an 83rd-minute strike, but it was Federico Valverde who had the last laugh with his 98th-minute goal sending Ancelotti’s men to the final.

It was a difficult opening Clasico encounter for Xavi as a manager, with Madrid going on to beat Athletic Club 2-0 in the final thanks to goals from Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.

Revenge was sweet for Xavi just two months later as his Barcelona side dismantled a woeful Real Madrid in La Liga, putting four unanswered goals past Ancelotti’s men.

Of all people, it was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was the catalyst for such an emphatic victory, providing his finest and most significant contribution in a Barcelona shirt. The former Arsenal forward scored a brace and provided an assist in the 4-0 thrashing, with Ronald Araujo and Ferran Torres adding even more gloss to a fine evening with a goal each.

Despite such a one-sided victory, Madrid would go on to win the Spanish title at a canter, finishing 13 points above rivals Barca.

Real Madrid were much improved by the next time Barcelona arrived in the Spanish capital, putting in a strong performance to reclaim El Clasico bragging rights.

Goals from Benzema and Valverde put Ancelotti’s side two goals up at half-time and, despite a late scare when Torres found the net late on for Barca, Rodrygo’s stoppage-time strike ensured a comfortable victory for the hosts.

A year after their first meeting, Xavi and Ancelotti would lock horns in the Supercopa de Espana once more, albeit this time in the final of the tournament.

It turned out to be a surprisingly routine victory for Barcelona on this occasion, with strikes from Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri ensuring Benzema’s late effort was nothing more than a consolation.

It was Xavi’s first trophy as Barcelona boss as he got one over on his experienced Real Madrid counterpart on the big stage.

Meeting in the Copa del Rey for the first time, it was again Xavi who came out on top when Barcelona travelled to the Santiago Bernabeu in the semi-final of last year’s competition.

It was far from a vintage Clasico, with the only goal of the game coming when centre-back Eder Militao turned into his own net with 26 minutes on the clock. Despite their best efforts, Madrid couldn’t find a late equaliser in the first leg, giving Barca a one-goal cushion to take back to Catalonia.

Just two weeks after their tepid first leg defeat in the Copa del Rey, Ancelotti suffered a similarly frustrating clash with Barcelona in La Liga at Camp Nou.

On this occasion, it was Barca centre-back Ronald Araujo who popped up with an early own goal, but Sergi Roberto levelled for the hosts just before the break. However, it would be a rare moment of joy for midfielder Franck Kessie, who found a 92nd-minute winner to move Barcelona further clear atop La Liga.

The Catalan giants would go on to win the title by ten points as Xavi helped Barca to a first La Liga crown since 2019.

Having seen his side humbled in a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona the season before, it was Ancelotti’s turn to serve up some humiliation in the Clasico as Madrid travelled to Catalonia for the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.

A goal down from the first tie and having lost three straight matches to Barcelona, Real Madrid turned on the heat to power themselves through to the final.

Karim Benzema netted a half-an-hour hat-trick in the second half having provided the assist for Vinicius‘ opener in the first, wiping the floor with a dismal Barcelona backline.

Ancelotti would go on to clinch the Copa del Rey trophy after Madrid beat Osasuna 2-1 in the final two months later.

Xavi vs Carlo Ancelotti H2H record

Goals scored

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