Real Madrid’s draw at home to Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday not only cut their lead over second-placed Barcelona to two points but also means the ‘Clasico’ in three weeks time is likely to have added piquancy.
Real and Barca each have two more domestic league games before the clash at the Nou Camp, the European champions playing at Athletic Bilbao and at home to Levante and the Catalans hosting Rayo Vallecano and travelling to Eibar. If the gap stays the same, as is likely, a win for Real in the lair of their arch army would put them in an extremely strong position with 10 games left, while success for Barca would give them an edge but a less commanding one.
Luis Enrique’s side lost 3-1 at the Bernabeu in October so unless Barca manage to match or better that result Real will have the head-to-head advantage that is used to separate teams who finish level on points at the end of the campaign. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti complained of a lack of speed and shooting accuracy after Sunday’s 1-1 stalemate against a Villarreal side resting many of their regulars ahead of Wednesday’s King’s Cup semi-final, second leg at home to Barca.
