The victory that FC Barcelona got in their fifth UEFA Champions League group stage match against Porto was a very significant one for the club.
This victory ensured a place for the reigning Spanish champions in the knock-out rounds of the Champions League, which was a special moment as the Catalans had failed to advance from the group stage in the last two editions of the tournament.
In addition to this sporting achievement, the victory will also help bring more stability to the club, especially after the turbulent last few weeks when the team had been struggling on the pitch.
Furthermore, the monetary rewards of getting into the later stages of Europe’s premier football competition will also fill up the club’s coffers.
However, the person to whom this victory will mean the most is no other than the Barcelona head coach, Xavi Hernandez. The former midfielder had been under huge pressure for the last few weeks, and there had been questions arising about the club hierarchy’s continued trust in him.
These questions were dispelled by the win against Porto, and were showcased by the heartfelt hug between President Joan Laporta and Xavi Hernandez after the final whistle, as noted by SPORT.
The President also went down to the locker room after the match to congratulate Xavi after his team came from behind to win this important match.
The Spanish media had been abuzz with discussions about Xavi’s situation at the club, particularly following reports of Laporta prioritizing the Barcelona Atletic away game over the first team’s clash with Rayo Vallecano.
While Laporta, Rafa Yuste, and Deco had all actively shown confidence in Xavi even before this match, this victory will definitely relieve a lot of pressure on the Barcelona head coach.
