Barca out to continue Clasico dominance to edge closer to LaLiga title

Barcelona will still be licking their wounds from their Champions League semi-final exit to Inter, but must put that firmly in their rearview mirror ahead of the Clasico. 

Hansi Flick's team welcome Real Madrid to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys this Sunday, hoping to edge close to reclaiming the LaLiga title.

Barca are four points clear of Madrid with four games of their season remaining, knowing a victory will put them within one win of clinching a 28th top-flight title. 

Barcelona have won their 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, have also not lost any of their last 15 LaLiga games (W13 D2) since their 1-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in December. They have not gone unbeaten in more consecutive matches since a run of 19 between December 2020 and April 2021 (W16 D3).

Barca have already lifted the Copa del Rey following a thrilling comeback win in extra time against Los Blancos, and they will be looking to pile more misery on their rivals. 

But they will have to put their dramatic defeat to Inter behind them, having come back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 in the 87th minute thanks to Raphinha's sweet strike. 

However, 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 their Copa del Rey victory, with Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde still finding their way to fitness. 

Despite their disappointing semi-final exit, Barca should be confident of overturning Madrid, having dominated their arch-rivals across this campaign.

They have won all three of their matches against Madrid this season in all competitions, with a goal difference of 12 goals scored and only four conceded.

Only Barca themselves, in the 1982-83 season (G5 W4 D1), have achieved more wins in a single campaign in the entire history of the Clasico.

And their success this season has been spearheaded by their attack, with Lewandoski backed up by Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and midfield maestro Pedri. 

Indeed, Barca have scored 91 goals in LaLiga this term, their best attacking record after their first 34 games of the season since 2016-17 (101 goals).

Meanwhile, Madrid have conceded 33 goals in the top-flight this season, their worst defensive record at this stage of the campaign since 2018-19 (38 goals).

Madrid, meanwhile, travel 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 have often performed well against their rivals away from home. 

They have won four of their last five away matches against Barca in all competitions (L1), achieving the same number of victories as in their previous 19 visits (W4 D7 L8).

Madrid have also won their last four LaLiga games, but have not managed five or more consecutive wins in the competition since a run of nine between March and May 2024.

Saturday's action concludes at the Metropolitano when third-placed Atletico face Real Sociedad, who are 11th and fighting for European qualification this season. 

Diego Simeone's team have not lost in their last 11 LaLiga matches against Sociedad (W9 D2), since a 0-1 defeat in March 2013, scoring exactly two goals in six of the last seven.

This match also pits the team that have collected the most points from losing positions in LaLiga this season (Atletico, 23) against the team that have collected the fewest (Real Sociedad, three).