With just 10 matches left this season following Sunday’s dramatic Clasico clash, Goal predicts the outcome of every remaining game involving Spain’s big two
Barcelona can now start dreaming of La Liga glory. Sunday’s crucial 2-1 Clasico win over Real Madrid at Camp Nou means they have opened up a four-point lead over their bitter rivals with just 10 games of the season remaining.
As we move towards April and get deep into the business end of the season, Barcelona know that the title is within touching distance. Having been given no hope at the turn of the year as star man Lionel Messi and coach Luis Enrique endured a very public falling-out, the Blaugrana have embarked on an incredible run.
Eighteen wins in their last 19 games in all competitions has left them favourites to win La Liga and still in the race to clinch the treble.
Madrid, on the other hand, looked unstoppable in the first half of the season as they racked up 22 wins on the bounce. But they have since lost their way and they have been defeated in three of their last four matches.
All is not yet lost for Madrid, though. Indeed the gap between them and Barca is manageable. They also enjoy the head-to-head advantage having beaten their rivals 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier in the season. Thus if the two teams finish level on points at the end of May, Madrid win be crowned champions because of their superior scoring record against their rivals.
The Blancos have an easier run-in. Of their 10 remaining games, six of their opponents are in the bottom half of the table. Matches against Granada, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, Almeria and Getafe should pose no problem, although Espanyol away won’t be easy as the Barcelona-based side have a good record on home turf.
Only the trip to Sevilla in week 35 and the home clash versus Valencia a round later look genuinely hazardous on paper. A total of 28 points from 30 is very possible, which would take Madrid’s final points tally up to 92.
Barcelona, by contrast, have a more difficult run of fixtures. Their penultimate game of the season against current champions Atletico Madrid stands out.
Although Diego Simeone’s men would prefer not to do their city rivals Real a favour, they will likely be fighting for an automatic Champions League spot and thus will be determined to win. Barca may have a good record against Atletico this season, but a visit to the Vicente Calderon is always a daunting prospect and defeat is very possible.
The away trip to Sevilla could also lead to dropped points, while Valencia will also test Barcelona at Camp Nou – especially as they are still in with an outside chance of winning La Liga. The local clash away against Espanyol and even the visit of David Moyes’ Real Sociedad – who beat Barca in January – shouldn’t be taken for granted, either.
If all goes to plan, at worst Barcelona would be expected to pick up 25 points from their final 10 games. Assuming Madrid don’t win all 10 of their fixtures, this would be just enough to bring the title back to Camp Nou.
But in football, things rarely go according to plan. Barcelona are undoubtedly favourites to win La Liga, but with 10 games left they can’t count their chickens just yet.
Goal.com