Barcelona’s rock-solid protection might be put to the check as they appear to take a large step nearer to a primary league identify in 4 years with victory over opponents Real Madrid on the Camp Nou in El Clasico on Sunday.
Barca, who dangle a nine-point benefit over their opponents on the most sensible of the desk, have received 21 in their 25 fits this season, shedding best considered one of their final 16 video games.
While they’re the second one absolute best scorers within the department with 47 objectives and boast the league’s most sensible scorer, Robert Lewandowski with 15, the basis in their luck has been on the different finish of the pitch.
They have conceded best 8 objectives within the league this season, through a long way the most productive defensive file in Europe’s most sensible 5 leagues.
At the core in their defensive unit are 3 gamers who’re playing stellar seasons: goalkeeper Marc Andre ter-Stegen and defenders Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde.
The trio will dangle the important thing to stifling Real’s attacking risk, in particular Araujo who has executed an ideal activity in nullifying the rapid Vinicius Jr within the final two video games between the groups.
It has no longer been all simple crusing for Barca this season and their wealthy vein of home shape has been tempered through some deficient shows in Europe.
After failing to succeed in the Champions League knockout levels for the second one consecutive 12 months previous within the season, Barca have been then knocked out within the Europa League playoff spherical through Manchester United.
Real will certainly hope that a few of their very own European shape can rub off on their home marketing campaign.
European champions Real were given a probably season-defining week off to a excellent get started through knocking Liverpool out of the Champions League on Wednesday with a 1-0 win in the second one leg in their last-16 tie that secured a 6-2 combination victory.
Veteran Italian supervisor Carlo Ancelotti will hope that has given them the boldness spice up they wanted to take a look at to finish a deficient run towards opponents Barca, having misplaced their final two encounters.
It would be the first of 2 visits to the Camp Nou in a month, with the groups set to conflict once more in early April in the second one leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, with Real trailing 1-0 from the primary leg in Madrid.
The two video games will decide Real’s trail for the rest of the season forward of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Two wins would go away Ancelotti’s facet nonetheless combating to protected a first-ever LaLiga, Cup and Champions League treble.
Should effects no longer cross their approach and the struggle to retain their Champions League identify will most likely turn out to be their sole focal point.