Following the significant disappointment of their UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Inter, Barcelona prepares to face Real Madrid in the final El Clasico of the season this Sunday.
With only four matches left in La Liga, this game carries immense weight. Barcelona holds a points advantage over Real Madrid, and a victory could potentially decide the league title race. While the situation appears favorable for Barcelona, especially having won the last three Clasico encounters this season, the question remains whether Hansi Flick`s squad has recovered emotionally and mentally for the challenge ahead.
As Thierry Henry put it: “You wake up and you`re like, `Did that happen?` … It`s tough, but the game that you want, in order to make sure that you don`t stay too long with it, is to play Real Madrid. That`s the game that you want because the town will put you back into it, the situation in the league will put you back into it and it`s the Clasico. That`s what you want and we`re going to find out if [they`re] okay or not straight away because … it`s four points. You can almost do it by winning there, especially against your archrivals.”
Barcelona remains one of Europe`s top attacking sides, particularly with the return of Robert Lewandowski from injury and the consistent impressive performances from Lamine Yamal. Their Champions League elimination wasn`t due to a failure to score – they netted six goals over two legs. However, Inter succeeded where few others have, effectively punishing Barcelona`s defensive vulnerabilities. This defensive weakness offers Real Madrid their most significant opportunity to inflict damage in El Clasico and potentially reignite their own title aspirations in the final weeks.
Carlo Ancelotti`s team is currently on a four-game winning streak in La Liga. The prospect of ending the season without a trophy looms large, adding significant pressure, especially in what is widely expected to be the Italian manager`s last campaign. Real Madrid boasts the kind of players who can exploit a fragile defense, notably Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Yet, there`s also a question about Real Madrid`s own offensive consistency – they have scored one goal or less in seven of their last eight games and aren`t renowned for defensive solidity themselves.
This combination of factors sets the stage for a surprisingly unpredictable final Clasico of the season, further intensifying the already high stakes surrounding this crucial match.
