Real Madrid and Barcelona will go head-to-head for the fourth time this season when both teams play on Sunday playing in the second La Liga El Clasico of the season.
Barcelona has managed to win two of their last three El Clasico fixtures between both teams, and they also go into the fixture top of the table and in form as they lead Real Madrid by 9 points on the La Liga table.
Both teams are unbeaten in their last three, although Real Madrid dropped points against Real Betis in a goalless draw before winning the other two games. Meanwhile, while Barcelona saw off Athletic Club 1-0 last week, Real Madrid did a 3-1 win over Espanyol.
The game is a chance for Real Madrid to cut Barcelona’s 9 points lead to just six points which will put the remaining fixtures in La Liga for both sides as competitive as possible.
Real Madrid also managed to complete their job against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg fixture. After a 5-2 win by Carlo Ancelotti’s men in the first leg at Anfield, Karim Benzema scored the only goal late into the second half of the second leg to secure a 6-2 win on aggregate.
Barcelona, on the other hand, has been knocked out of Europe by Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League playoff round.
However, as far as the El Clasico is concerned the season Barcelona have the upper hand, having won two of the three clashes they had this season with the Los Blancos.
Xavi’s side won the last fixture in the Copa Del Rey first leg of the semi-final with a 1-0 win. Beyond that, the assigned referee for Sunday’s clash is referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxe, who handled the 3-1 win for Barcelona over Real Madrid n the Supercopa De Espana final in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Even though there is one more el Clasico fixture after Sunday’s clash, this will be the most important of all the El Clasico matches this season as it may be the decider for the winner of the La Liga title as a win would pitch Barcelona 12 points clear of Real Madrid and a win for Carlo Ancelotti’s men would put Real Madrid just within six points of Barcelona.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
