After brushing apart Liverpool with stunning ease within the Champions League, Real Madrid seems to once more be reaching its peak type when titles are on the road.
The 6-2 combination victory over the English crew put Madrid within the remaining eight of Europe’s elite competitors and with the likelihood for a treble of titles this season, together with the Spanish league and Copa del Rey.
But that feat hinges on producing one other huge win at FC Barcelona on Sunday.
Barcelona leads the Spanish league and has opened up a nine-point hole on second-place Madrid. A loss at Camp Nou would go away Madrid needing a meltdown by its high rival over the remaining weeks to maintain its title, whereas a victory would verify that the crew is hitting its stride when it counts.
Despite being one of many favorites to elevate what can be a record-extending fifteenth European Cup, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois mentioned he and his teammates received’t overlook the home league.
“We have to try to go as far as we can in every competition, because even though we are in the quarterfinals (of the Champions League), it depends on who you play and maybe in April you are already out of contention and have nothing to play for,” Courtois mentioned after Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Liverpool. “So it is important to win this Sunday and stay in the league race.”
Karim Benzema, who has missed a number of video games this season with a collection of minor accidents, mentioned he will probably be able to go towards Barcelona regardless of taking knock on his leg that left him limping after he scored towards Liverpool.
The recreation would be the second of three “clasicos” performed in simply over a month. The two Spanish powerhouses will even play on April 5 when Madrid returns to Barcelona within the second recreation of the Copa del Rey semifinals after the Catalan aspect received 1-0 within the capital in February.
The final time Barcelona performed Madrid it was lacking Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembélé and Pedri due to accidents and needed to depend on its protection within the first Copa del Rey semifinal recreation. Lewandowski, who leads the league with 15 objectives, is now again taking part in, whereas Pedri is uncertain. Dembélé will not be anticipated to be prepared.
The success of Barcelona’s pricey rebuilding challenge final 12 months, which concerned the promoting of a part of its future tv revenues and different belongings so it might purchase gamers like Lewandowski, rests on it successful its first league title since 2019. It has already flopped out of the Champions League and Europa League.
Barcelona is now eyeing a home double — if it might probably hold its leads over Madrid in each the league and the cup competitors amid a rising scandal over its funds to the vice chairman of Spain’s refereeing committee from 2001-18.
Earlier this season, Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 within the league in October, whereas Barcelona bettered Madrid 3-1 within the Spanish Super Cup remaining in January.
Associated Press
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