Sunday`s final El Clasico of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona holds significant weight, potentially deciding the La Liga title race, yet the circumstances for both clubs have shifted considerably over the past week. Barcelona`s pursuit of a treble ended with their Champions League elimination by Inter, while speculation surrounding Real Madrid`s next manager was fueled by Xabi Alonso announcing his departure from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season.
More than just a defining match for La Liga, this Clasico serves as a crucial turning point for both Spanish giants as they aim to salvage their respective seasons. Barcelona can put their Champions League disappointment behind them and still deem the season a success by moving closer to a domestic double. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will be giving their all to avoid their first season without major silverware since the 2020-21 campaign, when they were edged out by Atletico Madrid for the league title.
With Kylian Mbappe joining before the season, Real Madrid`s attack was expected to propel them to glory. While that hasn`t fully materialized, this Clasico could represent their last significant push for success under Ancelotti. Given expectations that he might depart for the Brazil job and with Real Madrid trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga, this match is perhaps their final opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities under his guidance.
This season has been a struggle for Los Blancos, trying to find the optimal lineup while managing injuries, and things simply haven`t clicked consistently. They have particularly struggled against Barcelona, losing four consecutive matches to their rivals. There`s no better moment to reverse that trend, but with Antonio Rudiger suspended for the rest of the season, their defense is significantly weakened. If players like Mbappe and Vinicius Junior can exploit Barcelona`s high defensive line, Real Madrid certainly has a chance to make the title race interesting. However, this season`s Real Madrid side looks distinctly different from the Inter Milan team that scored seven goals past Barcelona over two legs in the Champions League.
If Barcelona coach Flick can`t re-focus his youthful squad after their recent Champions League loss, the match could become very challenging. Nevertheless, even a loss here doesn`t drastically alter Barcelona`s league objectives; winning their remaining three La Liga matches would still secure them the league title and a domestic double. With Raphinha, arguably the best player in La Liga this season, and Lamine Yamal, an emerging world-class talent, on their side, Barcelona is generally heading in the right direction. However, overcoming mental challenges like a tough European exit is vital for their development.
Flick has largely managed to make the right decisions this season to guide Barcelona towards success. However, when relying on teenagers in key positions, how they respond to setbacks truly reveals their character to the manager. Similar to Real Madrid, Barcelona has also dealt with injuries and rotation this season, but their depth players have often managed to secure crucial points. With Robert Lewandowski not at full fitness, Flick`s team will need to summon extra resilience. The stakes are high: claiming La Liga and preventing Ancelotti from potentially having a triumphant send-off.
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, May 11
- Time: 10:15 a.m. ET
- Location: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys — Barcelona, Spain
- TV: ESPN
- Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
- Odds: Barcelona +100; Draw +300; Real Madrid +220
