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A CAGEY EL CLASICO IS BARCA’S LAST ROLL OF THE LALIGA DICE

On Wednesday night, as Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League at the hands of Juventus, Camp Nou applauded. Even as Blaugrana took their leave from yet another European competition before the semi-final stages, which has become worryingly regular since the departure of Pep Guardiola six years ago, there was an understanding that the team had outperformed to even squeeze their way beyond Paris Saint-Germain in the most heroic of circumstances during the round of 16.

 

La Liga Woes

In the league, there is unlikely to be the same sentiment should their players trudge off empty-handed at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. The fact that Real Madrid have been successful without truly impressing in more than a handful of LaLiga games doesn’t help Luis Enrique’s cause. Los Blancos always look fallible, beatable and have it in them to switch off. Curiously, LaLiga’s second-placed club find themselves in a similar situation.

A Catalan defeat in El Clasico on Sunday evening would constitute Real Madrid taking a six-point advantage at the summit of the table with a match still in hand. It would effectively end the title race as a feasible contest for Barcelona – and they cannot walk out from this season with only the potential to have the Copa del Rey trophy in hand. Time is running out.

 

Stifled Barcelona

The suspension of Neymar poses further questions. Lionel Messi looks to be the only bastion of hope. Last week against Real Sociedad, they won – but only just. And they ambled through the game. Normally, that would be the side of a top team, a set of champions, but instead it just felt strange, dazed and undeserved. Messi chipped in with two goals and an assist, and he’ll need to be in similar form once again.

Juventus knew how to deal with Barca, as did Real Sociedad. Press high and cut out their predictable build-up play and things become patchy and ad hoc for their opposition. Sergio Busquets offers control and is the key to linking the spine of the team together, but asphyxiate him and Luis Enrique’s men look low on ideas.

If they move the ball into the midfield third or beyond, the onus shifts off Busquets and firmly onto Messi. With Neymar sitting out, the burden has grown ever stronger.

Luis Suarez was in inspired form against Granada recently, but there is a sense that he needs an important member of the supporting cast to capitalise on his movement and pace. Andres Iniesta is often the catalyst injected from the bench, but Messi is the omnipresent man from which the world is asked, and this will continue to be the case until the summer.

Real Madrid will be confident in their own abilities. They have the stronger squad, the depth that Barca were looking for the in summer transfer window when they shelled out for the likes of Andre Gomes, Lucas Digne and Paco Alcacer. While Isco takes responsibility when given the opportunity, Luis Enrique’s second-string just take another seat as a passenger in the game.

 

A Glimmer of Hope

As ever, Barcelona cannot be counted out. Not down to the heroic efforts of the Champions League comeback against PSG, but down to the sheer fact that they can call upon Messi. He can rip up the formbook and leave the best-laid tactical plans in tatters.

Atletico Madrid and Antoine Griezmann recently learned that Real Madrid could be caught cold due to a momentary lapse in concentration, and Lionel Messi will be aware of the same possibility. With three points in hand in the Madrid derby, Zidane’s men eased off and lost their way, but this time the stakes are higher.

It is that sliver of hope, the weak link in Real Madrid’s chainmail. But in overextending to exploit it, Luis Enrique must be careful to not leave his own team’s clear deficiencies plainly exposed.

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