Defensive solidity returns for FC Barcelona

The decisive phase of the season is almost upon us and Barça are looking more like their old selves from a defensive point of view. In the last month, Xavi Hernández's team have conceded very little in front of Marc ter Stegen's goal, allowing the team to get back to the solidity that helped them to the league title last season. 

Since a 3-3 draw with Granada in mid-February, the blaugranes have only conceded two goals - once in a 2-1 away win at Celta Vigo and once in the 1-1 draw against Napoli in the Champions League in Italy. In their last three league games they have kept three successive clean sheets for the first time in La Liga this season with a 4-0 win at home to Getafe, a 0-0 draw with Athletic in San Mamés and a 1-0 win against Mallorca on Friday in the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. 

Five from eight since Xavi's annoucement 

After the win against Javi Aguirre's Mallorca, the blaugranes have now won five of the eight matches played since Xavi Hernández announced his departure at the end of the season, drawing the remaining three.