Barcelona, thanks to its 28 victories, 80 goals scored, and 11-point lead, has earned five championship chances. The first opportunity is this weekend. Although it does not depend on itself, Barça only has one result that matters if it wants to celebrate the title now: winning at El Sadar tonight. Otherwise, there will be no possible combination because in this first scenario it cannot be champion on the pitch but only later.
If they leave Osasuna’s stronghold with three points, Barça fans can already start chilling the cava for tomorrow. Win to wait. Win to receive a favor. Triumph to sit on the couch with complete peace of mind to see if Madrid slips up at the RCDE Stadium. A draw or a win for Espanyol would cause, with four rounds to go, the culés to take to the streets to celebrate their 29th League title, the second in a row, and Hansi Flick’s fifth trophy.
The combination
If they win at El Sadar, the blaugrana need Madrid to slip up at Cornellà to be champions
If the whites win against the periquitos, the May 10th clásico at Spotify Camp Nou – the first after two years at Montjuïc – will gain even more significance, as it would have a double reward for the blaugrana.
But the leader wants to be champion soon and Flick does not hide it. The German coach quickly sensed at yesterday’s press conference that the atmosphere wanted to talk more about hypothetical celebrations, guard of honors, parades, and the possible 100-point record than about football. And he was not in the mood. A man of football and respectful, he did not want to rush. “I want to focus on this match and not on the ones to come. I want us to play the same as in Getafe, with the same intensity and taking advantage of the spaces,” he prescribed to win at El Sadar, where last season they lost 4-2. “That day we made many rotations. Tomorrow (today) we will not do that.”
The fast track
The leader wants to be champion soon to celebrate his second consecutive League and the German coach’s fifth title
The German insisted that it is not advisable to get carried away by euphoria and think that the League will fall by itself because it is close, but that they have to go for it with ambition. “We are not done yet, it is not done. We have only won one League. We are doing well for the second, but we have to win more matches,” he emphasized.
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For the trip to Pamplona, the leader recovers Bernal and especially Raphinha, who has not played with the team since March 22 as he got injured with Brazil afterwards. “Rapha always gives 100% on the field and in training. But he has to think about what has happened to him this season. For us, it is positive to have him with the team, he is our captain and brings a positive mentality.” The forward has only started in 26 of the 52 matches played this season. However, he will not be able to count on Koundé, suspended, and Lamine Yamal, whose recovery is going well. “Lamine is progressing well and is in contact with the coach. I think we will see him in the World Cup,” he pointed out.
Full confidence in his group
Flick, who recovers Raphinha, sees his team “100%” capable of competing at the level of Bayern and PSG
Eliminated from the Champions League in the quarterfinals by Atlético, Flick followed the semifinals on television, especially the 5-4 between PSG and Bayern. A spectacle that strengthened the German coach in his ideas and reaffirmed the potential he sees in his Barça. “I believe 100% that we can compete with Bayern and PSG,” he assured. The 4-1 win over the Bavarians last season (with Kompany newly arrived) and the 1-2 defeat in the 90th minute against this season’s Parisians, although neither Dembélé nor Kvaratskhelia played, are still fresh in memory.
And he did not say it only because of the confidence he has in the individual quality and future of the squad, but because of the good vibe the group exudes. “We have a fantastic atmosphere in the club and in the locker room. You can have the best players but to win titles you have to be the best team. For me, that is important, that they give everything for the club and how they play for each other,” he said about his greatest pride. Although it can also be a message to Real Madrid’s galactic philosophy.
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