Xavi eyes Barca bounce back

The 2-1 loss to Madrid all but ended its Primera Division title challenge, and the players now face the task of making a quick recovery for the return leg of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.

Barca will be looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit at the Nou Camp on Tuesday and Xavi believes the prospect of reaching a European final will be enough to get the squad back on their feet.

"We are playing for the chance to make the Champions League final, that says everything," he said on www.fcbarcelona.com.

"The fans are intelligent enough to know that we will be playing for so much on Tuesday and we really want them behind us, as they always have been on the big occasions to help us fight back."

Barca's league challenge may be almost over, but Pep Guardiola's men have already been crowned champions in the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the pre-season Spanish Supercopa.

With a Copa del Rey final appearance also on the cards next month against Athletic Bilbao, Xavi insists it can be proud of its achievements this season.

"The league title might be lost, but we've got a cup final ahead, we've already won three titles and we can still reach the Champions League final," said the 32-year-old.

"Of the six competitions we were in this season, we still have the chance to come away with five - we are just missing the cup and the Champions League.

"We'll keep fighting, because we know that it's in our own hands to finish with a good season."