BARCELONA: Barcelona may be lucky Real Madrid has loftier goals than trying to mount a desperate comeback in the Spanish league. If not, then Barcelona would face Sunday’s game against Atletico Madrid with the added pressure of ending its scoring drought to ensure it doesn’t get mired in a late-season slump.
Barcelona still has a healthy lead of 11 points over Madrid with nine games remaining. But the team hasn’t scored in three straight games after being beaten by Madrid 4-0 in the Copa del Rey and being held to scoreless draws against modest league opponents in Girona and Getafe.So a loss to Atletico combined with a win the previous night by Madrid when it hosts Celta Vigo could stir up fears of a meltdown as Barcelona tries to win its first league title since the departure of Lionel Messi two seasons ago.
Madrid, however, has two other titles almost in its grasp. The team will play Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final in Seville on May 6, and three days later it will host Manchester City in the Champions League semifinals. After brushing aside Chelsea this week, Madrid is now only three games away from defending its title and adding to its record 14 European Cups.
That alone should mean Barcelona won’t face a serious challenge from its top rival as Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti rests his top players - but just to be sure it better beat Atletico.The other Madrid team struggled early in the season, quickly falling out of contention for the league title and finishing its Champions League group in last place.
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