Real, Barca renew Clasico hostiles
ESPNfootball.com
Real Madrid can take a leap toward securing this seasons La Liga title when they play host to Barcelona in the second of this seasons El Clasico meetings on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu, reports ESPNfootball.com
Los Blancos lead second-placed Barca by three points with a game in hand heading into Sundays showdown, where victory for the hosts could see the crowns destination decided considering only a few games remain in the season.
After exiting the UEFA Champions League in midweek following a 0-0 stalemate at home to Juventuscompleting a 3-0 aggregate defeat in the quarter-final clashBarca will be motivated to resurrect their league chances.
Meanwhile, manager Zinedine Zidanes side can advance their prospects of a double this season, having progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League following their 6-3 aggregate hammering of Bayern Munich in the last eight.
Unfortunately for Barcelonas chances of stealing a win in the Spanish capital this Sunday, Brazil maestro Neymar doesnt look as though hell be available to feature for the visitors.
Spanish daily Marca reported on Thursday that an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was his only hope of having his suspension overturned. Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic told Sky Sports La Liga World he and his team-mates now wish to win the clash for their banned brother in arms.
The Croatian is right in that Sundays duel would be far less complicated with Neymar around, but the South American is paying the price for the dissent he showed after being sent off against Real Sociedad earlier this month. The league campaign is of particular importance for Neymar and Co. following Wednesdays Champions League exit, where the forward was left distraught in the face of defeat, via BT Sport.
The Blaugrana are a much
more threatening beast with Neymar in their lineup, and the Brazilian has at times outshone the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez this season.
Its just Barcas luck that while theyll likely be without their wing wizard, Reals Gareth Bale made his return to training on Thursday and could be rushed back from his calf injury in time for Sundays blockbuster, per the Mirrors James Whaling.
Although six games remain in their league campaign altogether, Barcelona will be under no illusions leading up to Sundays clash: lose at the Bernabeu, and their chances at the title will effectively be extinguished.
Former Real midfielder Ruben de la Red put the tense setting into words this week, taking special note of the fact Barca travel to the capital after a patch of streaky form, per Daniel Lopez Peinado of Marca:
De la Red also praised Zidane for leading Real to the semi-finals of the Champions League for a second season in succession, maintaining his 100 percent record in that regard after almost 18 months in the job.
Cristiano Ronaldo arose to power Real past Bayern with a hat-trick performance in midweek, and La Liga recently celebrated Ronaldos scoring exploits against Barca at the Camp Nou in December 2003: Now theres a newer talisman going by that mantle, but one no less influential as the Portuguese Ronaldo seeks revenge for Reals last home league clash against Barca, when they were thumped 4-0 in November 2015.
Barcelona have scored four times in each of their last two league trips to the Bernabeu, but without Neymar, and manager Luis Enrique entering his last derby before leaving the Blaugrana, the guests will struggle to uphold that pattern.
