Barca out to continue El Clasico dominance
Barcelona will still be licking its wounds from its Champions League semi-final exit to Inter, but must put that firmly in its rearview mirror ahead of the Clasico.
Hansi Flick's team welcomes Real Madrid to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, hoping to edge close to reclaiming the LaLiga title.
Barca is four points clear of Los Blancos with four games of its season remaining, knowing a victory will put it within one win of clinching a 28th top-flight title.
Barcelona has won its last three matches against Madrid in all competitions, only once in the entire history of Clasico, between 2008 and 2010 under Pep Guardiola (five), have the Blaugrana managed four or more consecutive wins.
Flick's team, while competing in Europe, has also not lost any of its last 15 LaLiga games (W13 D2) since its 1-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in December. it has not gone unbeaten in more consecutive matches since a run of 19 between December 2020 and April 2021 (W16 D3).
Barca has already lifted the Copa del Rey after a thrilling comeback win in extra time against Real Madrid, and it will be looking to pile more misery on its great rival.
But it will have to put its dramatic defeat to Inter behind it, having come back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 in the 87th minute thanks to Raphinha's sweet strike.
Inter equalised through Francesco Acerbi in added time to stay alive and then got the winner from substitute Davide Frattesi in extra time to stun Barca.
Barca will still be without defender Joules Kounde, the hero from its Copa del Rey victory, with Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde still finding their way to fitness.
Despite its disappointing semi-final exit, Barca should be confident of overturning Madrid, having dominated its arch-rival across this campaign.
It has won all three of its matches against Madrid this season in all competitions, with a goal difference of 12 goals scored and only four conceded.
Only Barca itself, in the 1982-83 season (G5 W4 D1), have achieved more wins in a single campaign in the entire history of the Clasico.
Its success this season has been spearheaded by its attack, with Lewandoski backed up by Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and midfield maestro Pedri.
Indeed, Barca has scored 91 goals in LaLiga, its best attacking record after their first 34 games of the season since 2016-2017 (101 goals).
Meanwhile, Madrid has conceded 33 goals in the top-flight this season, its worst defensive record at this stage of the campaign since 2018-2019 (38 goals).
Madrid, meanwhile, travels to Barcelona missing several key starters due to injury, including Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga.
Carlo Ancelotti is under the spotlight with growing rumours that he is on his way out of the Spanish capital to take over the vacant job with the Brazil national team.
But Madrid has often performed well against its rival away from home.
It has won four of its last five away matches against Barca in all competitions (L1), achieving the same number of victories as in its previous 19 visits (W4 D7 L8).
Madrid has also won its last four LaLiga games, but has not managed five or more consecutive wins in the competition since a run of nine between March and May 2024.
