Xavi's in the last chance saloon after Laporta went BEZERK in hospitality box

When Barcelona were embarrassed last weekend, drawing 3-3 at home to second-from-bottom Granada, club president Joan Laporta took it out on the canapés, angrily turning over a tray of spring rolls in a hospitality box.

The next time it happens it will be Xavi and not the buffet that gets it — one more humiliation and he's out.

The good news for Barca's beleaguered coach is that Wednesday's Champions League last-16 game is against Napoli and they are in almost as bad a state as Barcelona.

Xavi would have been fired after losing 5-3 at home to Villarreal last month but he asked to stay until the end of the season and Laporta agreed. 'We let him because of who he is,' he said in a recent interview.

Barcelona have the worst defensive record of any team in the top-five European Leagues in 2024, conceding 23 goals in 11 games since the start of the year.

Xavi has moved former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen into midfield to try and plug the gaps but the 3-3 draw last weekend suggests it's not working.

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri also has no defence. His team have conceded 27 goals in 23 games — that's only one fewer than in the whole of last season — and they are 25 points behind leaders Inter.

Barca's problems are worse because they extend beyond the pitch. Candidates sounded out about taking over from Xavi — Hansi Flick remains a contender, having signed with Robert Lewandowski's agent Pini Zahavi — are being told several of the best players will need to be sold this summer.

There have been various attempts to push Frenkie de Jong out in recent years and, after only winning one league and one cup in four seasons, he is warming to the idea of moving on.

Ronald Araujo is another saleable asset being pushed towards the exit