FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.01.2009 12:36

Xavi set to play 300th league game

Jesús Carrillo

Xavi Hernández is set to play his 300th league game for FC Barcelona on Sunday against Osasuna in the Reyno de Navarra. The Terrassa-born midfielder has played 299 matches so far since making his debut in 1998.

The appearance landmark means that Xavi will be seventh in the Blaugrana's record books for the number of league encounters played in.

If coach Josep Guardiola chooses the 28-year-old then he will make it 300 games and will move above Joan Segarra and Juan Manuel Asensi, while drawing level with Andoni Zubizarreta.

Awards list

Since making his debut in the 1998-99 campaign, when he made 17 appearances under Louis van Gaal and scored one goal as Barça won the championship, Xavi has won three league titles.

It was another five seasons before Xavi added his second title in Frank Rijkaard's second term at the helm in 2004-05. Xavi made 36 apearances that season, starting in every game.

The following season, Xavi suffered a serious injury that limited his appearances to just 16 league appearances as Barça went on to win the league and the Champions League.

Average games

During his first three seasons in the first team, Xavi averaged 20 matches-per-year and from then on he has played around 30 games each season, with the exeption of the 2005-06 campagin when he was injured.

His best record came in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons when Xavi played 36 league matches. In his 299 matches the Blaugrana playmaker has started in 270 of them.

2008: a good year

Xavi has been rewarded with a place in the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) team of the year and has been chosen as the most creative player of 2008.

The Barça midfielder obtained 113 votes while Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo was given just 94 votes. Xavi was also voted as the best player at the European Championships last summer and finished fifth in the Ballon d'Or vote as well as being included in the FIFPro Best Eleven.