El clásico: Clear skies and sunny days for Barcelona on the other hand. With the sting of Champions League disappointment fading but not forgotten, Barcelona are aiming to clinch back-to-back La Liga titles on Sunday when they host bitter rivals Real Madrid.
Leading by 11 points, Hansi Flick’s side only need a draw in el clásico to be crowned champions again, although a victory against a team in crisis would keep them on course to make history – and celebrate in style.
If Barcelona win their last four league games this season, starting with the battle against Alvaro Arbeloa’s fracturing Madrid, they will match the all-time league record of 100 points. That was first achieved by José Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2011-12 and followed the season after by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona. Barcelona’s 29 wins so far this season are the most of any side at this point, and if they win their last four games they will break the record of 32 victories in a season, shared by the Mourinho and Vilanova sides.
Should Barcelona beat Madrid and also Real Betis the following weekend, they will become the first team to win all their home matches in a 38-game La Liga season.
However, they are without Lamine Yamal, who is out for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury. The Brazilian winger Raphinha returned to the bench last weekend after injury but did not appear in the win at Osasuna which moved Barcelona to the brink of the title.
