Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Real Madrid | La Liga GW 35 | OneFootball

The La Liga title race in Spain has been fascinating all through the campaign, and one could not have asked for a better end to the season.

Barcelona began the season on the front foot with a stunning run of form, but a slump in November and December saw them lose out all their advantage and give Real Madrid the impetus.

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid then tussled for the power in early January but a poor run of form in the new year saw both teams gradually fall apart and Barcelona regain their position as leaders.

Since then, both Barcelona and Los Blancos have held on and prevented slip-ups before El Clasico. The game tomorrow, thus, will be the biggest showdown of the season.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Real Madrid.

Mending a broken heart

Years may not be enough to heal the wounds Barcelona suffered earlier this week in Milan, and the result may well be more painful than the other exits the club has suffered in the competition.

Two and a half minutes was all that stood between Barcelona and a place in the final of the UEFA Champions League, but they botched their advantage and went on to lose the game.

From questionable refereeing decisions to defensive lapses and individual mistakes, a number of factors came together to be Barcelona’s undoing on the night. The wounds, however, are still fresh and not ideal heading into a Clasico.

The importance of tomorrow’s game cannot be understated, but the big question to be answered is whether Barcelona will be in the right frame of mind to take to the field in such a high-stakes game.

Hansi Flick’s men have largely been on a positive run all season and have seldom ever faced a slump in momentum.

For the first time this season, the German manager must boost his men’s morale and lift them up from a devastating defeat. Can Barcelona put the horrors of Milan aside and start on a fresh slate? Only time will tell.

The league can end here

Another title in sight. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Barcelona have played against Real Madrid in high-stakes encounters this season with two of their last three games being finals.

On both occasions, it was the Catalan side who came out on top and thus showed the world that they are the superior team both in footballing terms and in the mental battle.

With just four games to go in La Liga, Barcelona are currently in the driver’s seat on the standings, sitting on 79 points after 34 games. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have 75 points.

Tomorrow’s Clasico, in that sense, will virtually decide the title race for it can have one of two outcomes – either Barcelona win and all but seal the trophy or Real Madrid get within a point of the Blaugrana and put serious pressure.

Should the Catalans take all three points tomorrow, Real Madrid’s maximum points tally will be just 84 points even if they win all their remaining games. Two points from Barcelona’s next three games, thus, will be enough to mathematically clinch the league.

90 minutes, thus, is all that stands between Barcelona and the La Liga title. Tomorrow’s result, thus, will be absolutely crucial.

Key decisions in the lineup

The defeat to Inter Milan does not call for urgent changes in defence, but Hansi Flick may well consider making some rotations on the night to keep the morale and freshness of the core high.

Alejandro Balde and Robert Lewandowski are available and it will be up to the manager to decide if they are to be risked as starters, although he did suggest that may not be the case in his press conference.

However, it is, after all, the only game that really matters for Barcelona until the end of the season, and risking the duo’s fitness may not be a bad option in retrospect.

Apart from the recently declared fit stars, the manager may also consider some changes in midfield where Barcelona lost a lot of balls in the Champions League semifinal.

Deploying Gavi to neutralize Real Madrid’s physical advantage and Fermin Lopez in light of Dani Olmo’s inconsistent form, thus, may be warranted changes.

The decisions Flick takes in terms of the starting lineup will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the game. The midfield must be the priority, especially given that Real Madrid will likely start with four midfielders.