Xavi wants Barcelona to develop despite Athletic Club’s victory. »

• Xavi demands improvement from Barcelona despite Athletic Club win.

After Barcelona’s razor-thin 1-0 victory against Athletic Club on Sunday night, manager Xavi insisted that his team needed to be more clinical in front of the goal.

Raphinha’s goal in stoppage time of the first half proved to be the deciding factor between the two teams; Athletic had an Iker Muniain goal disallowed for handball. The outcome kept Barcelona nine points ahead of Real Madrid in La Liga.

That was Barcelona’s ninth 1-0 victory of the season, and despite leaving San Mames with all three points, Xavi urged his team to show more clinical edge. Barcelona has only given up eight goals in 25 league games.

“We have been at a good level for 75 minutes although we have to attack better. It was a difficult course and in San Mamés you end up suffering,” the Spaniard said.

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“It is a golden victory for us and we take three very important points. But we have to get better at the game. We have had two or three clear chances in the second half: from Ansu, from Balde for not choosing well, from Lewandowski with a header.

“We have to improve in that aspect, be calmer and more patient and play more in the opposite field. Defensive solvency must also be valued, but it is true that we have to improve in the opposite field.”

Xavi said that Sergio Busquets is still “providing a lot” to Barcelona and that his performance level has been one of the season’s “surprises” in hopes that the veteran midfielder will continue to play at Camp Nou.

After recently defeating Carlo Ancelotti’s team 1-0 at home in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal, Xavi’s Barcelona team has home advantage and bragging rights in what might be the title-deciding Clasico.

The second leg will be played on April 5, with the winner facing either Athletic Club or Osasuna in the title game.