“Xavi: The Spark of Joy Behind RB Leipzig’s Remarkable Revival!”

Reflecting on his remarkable and goal-filled return to competitive play, RB Leipzig forward Xavi Simons mentioned to bundesliga.com, “This is my life, this is why I’m here,” as the gifted 21-year-old showcased his talents in the Bundesliga once more.

During his last match in Germany’s premier division, he also scored in a 2-0 victory away at Mainz on October 19. At that moment, Xavi could not have envisioned the three-month recovery from an ankle injury that forced him to miss 15 fixtures for both club and nation. 

Thus, it was with a radiant smile that the Amsterdam native entered the pre-match warm-up for Sunday’s Matchday 16 clash against Werder Bremen, as Xavi discovered he would reclaim his position in Marco Rose’s starting XI for an important game on Leipzig’s schedule.

In his 65 minutes on the field, the Netherlands international delighted the home crowd at the Red Bull Arena, netting an impressive first-half brace and making a significant impact both on and off the ball.

Watch: Xavi – “This is why I’m here”

Additional goals from Benjamin Šeško – who scored with a powerful long-range strike into the top corner – and Christoph Baumgartner aided Leipzig in forgetting a heavy loss against Bayern Munich at the close of 2024. In addition to boosting morale, the 4-2 triumph over Werder lifted the Saxony-based team into fourth place in the standings, with Xavi and his teammates glowing with satisfaction as a result.     

“I’m extremely pleased to be back and reunited with the team,” the Paris-Saint Germain loan player shared afterwards. “Naturally, scoring two goals makes me really happy. It was a moment to return onto the field and engage in what I adore with my teammates,” Xavi elaborated. “This is my life, this is why I’m here.”

Watch: Šeško celebrates Xavi’s return 

When questioned about Jürgen Klopp’s presence at the match – the legendary coach present at the Red Bull Arena in his new advisory role – Xavi remarked, “Certainly, he is a significant legend. Everyone recognizes Jürgen Klopp. We are genuinely thrilled to have him with us. We are young players, and even those with experience can gain a lot of knowledge from him.”

The players from Leipzig will undoubtedly learn plenty from Xavi as well, with the adaptable attacker achieving his first Bundesliga brace in his 40th appearance in the league. Remarkably, despite his injury challenges, Xavi now possesses six goal contributions (four goals, two assists) in merely eight top-flight matches this season and can proudly claim a total of 12 Bundesliga career goals. 
 
“It’s wonderful to witness him back on the pitch,” Šeško expressed to bundesliga.com when asked about his Dutch teammate. “I enjoy playing alongside him; he brings joy to the game. I’m truly excited for his two goals because it will boost his confidence even more.”

Watch: Xavi shines in Leipzig victory 

This newfound confidence will serve Leipzig well as they approach a hectic New Year schedule that continues on Wednesday with a visit to seventh-placed Stuttgart.