Xavi Effect: Barcelona Return to the Top of La Liga for the First Time in Two Years, Three Months and 13 Days

• Xavi Hernandez's Barcelona have assumed the summit of the La Liga standings after match day seven of the ongoing campaign
• Barca usurped long-standing rivals Real Madrid after Los Blancos dropped their first points against Osasuna on Sunday
• The first instalment of El Clasico this season is just two weeks away, with Madrid travelling to Getafe next weekend as Barcelona welcome Celta to Camp Nou

It has taken two years, three months and 13 days for FC Barcelona to assume the summit of the La Liga table.

The Blaugrana are sitting at the top of La Liga, level on 19 points with eternal nemesis Real Madrid after Los Blancos dropped points for the first time since the start of the 2022-23 season.

Barcelona, coached by former midfielder Xavi Hernandez, have been in phenomenal form in the opening seven games of the Spanish elite division.

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Xavi's charges have conceded just once while scoring 19 in the process, averaging 2.71 goals per game.

The Catalan giants had played second fiddle to Real Madrid, who on the other side of the divide had enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign - winning all their games - until match day seven.

Madrid's draw on Sunday ensured Barcelona usurped their bitterest rivals at the top of the league standings by virtue of goal difference after the most recent round of fixtures, reports All Football.

Barcelona last occupied the apex of the Spanish top-flight in the 2020 season under the coaching tutelage of Quique Setién, on matchday 29 of the 2019-20 season when the Catalan outfit had 64 points after beating Leganés 2-0.

At the time, Real Madrid were two points behind on 62, after beating Valencia.

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Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez breaks Zidane's record for the longest unbeaten streak in away games in the Spanish league

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Barcelona’s coach Xavi has entered the La Liga record books.

The Spanish manager set a new record courtesy of Barca’s 1-0 win over Real Mallorca.

As noted by Barca Blaugranes, Xavi has now gone 18 away games in La Liga without suffering a single defeat. Xavi replaced Ronald Koeman in November last year and has overseen 13 wins and five draws.