Following the immense disappointment of their 7-6 aggregate defeat to Inter in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday, Barcelona are set to return to action this Sunday for the season`s final El Clasico. This highly anticipated match holds the potential to significantly shape their entire campaign. With only four La Liga games remaining and holding a four-point lead over Real Madrid heading into the weekend`s clash, securing a victory could bring the league title tantalizingly close. While the situation technically favors Barcelona, especially given their three prior wins against Real Madrid this season, the key question remains: can Hansi Flick`s squad recover mentally and physically from the European heartbreak to face this formidable challenge?
As analyst Thierry Henry pointed out, a game against Real Madrid is perhaps the ideal fixture after such a devastating loss. The intense rivalry and the crucial league implications immediately refocus the team and reveal whether they have truly moved past the Champions League exit. The four-point lead means this match offers a direct opportunity to take a decisive step towards the title, particularly against their fiercest rivals.
Barcelona undeniably possess one of Europe`s top attacking units, bolstered by Robert Lewandowski`s return from injury and Lamine Yamal`s consistent high-level performances. Their Champions League elimination wasn`t due to a lack of goals, having scored six times across the two legs. However, Inter successfully exploited Barcelona`s defensive fragilities, proving to be one of the few teams capable of punishing their porous backline. This defensive vulnerability likely presents Real Madrid with their best chance to inflict damage in El Clasico and potentially reignite their own challenge for the title in the season`s final weeks.
Carlo Ancelotti`s Real Madrid side enters the match on the back of a four-game winning streak in the league. They have significant motivation, facing the prospect of a trophyless season, particularly in what is widely expected to be the Italian manager`s final campaign at the helm. Real Madrid also boasts players capable of exploiting defensive weaknesses, notably Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Yet, questions also linger about Real Madrid`s own form, having scored one goal or fewer in seven of their last eight matches, and their defense is not considered impervious either.
All these factors converge to create a surprisingly unpredictable Clasico to round off the season, amplifying the sense of consequence surrounding this weekend`s biggest game.
Other European Finalists Return to Domestic Play
With the finalists for Europe`s premier club competitions now confirmed, attention briefly shifts back to domestic leagues. While some finalists like Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur have their league positions largely settled, others, including Inter, Chelsea, and Real Betis, still have crucial objectives to pursue in their respective domestic campaigns before their European finals.
