Barcelona target title-clinching Clasico against troubled Real Madrid

BARCELONA: Barcelona can secure a second successive La Liga title on Sunday when they host Real Madrid in El Clasico, with Hansi Flick's side needing only a draw to be crowned champions.

Barcelona lead the standings by 11 points and head into the match looking to put their recent Champions League setback further behind them. A victory over their rivals would not only seal the title in emphatic fashion but also keep them on course to equal one of the league's landmark records.

If Barcelona win their final four league matches of the season, beginning with Sunday's meeting, they will finish on 100 points. That total was first reached by Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in 2011-12 and matched by Tito Vilanova's Barcelona the following season.

Flick's team have already collected 29 league wins, more than any side has managed at this stage of a campaign. Winning their remaining four matches would also take them beyond the current record of 32 victories in a season, a mark shared by the Mourinho and Vilanova teams.

There is another milestone within reach at home. If Barcelona beat Madrid and then overcome Real Betis the following weekend, they would become the first side to win every home game in a 38-match La Liga season.

Injuries and selection issues

Barcelona will, however, be without teenage forward Lamine Yamal, who is sidelined for the next few weeks because of a hamstring injury. Brazilian winger Raphinha was back on the bench last weekend after recovering from injury, but he did not feature in the win over Osasuna that left Barcelona on the verge of the title.

I see the team in great shape, very focused -- we're all really looking forward to playing the Clasico.

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde said this week.

We can win La Liga with a draw, but a win would be the best.

The match will be the first Clasico at the partially rebuilt Camp Nou in more than three years. In March 2023, Xavi Hernandez's Barcelona claimed a late win there through Franck Kessie's goal, a result that opened a 12-point gap over Madrid and left them all but certain of the title.

Only once before has the outcome of a Clasico directly settled the title race in this way. In the 1931-32 season, Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Barcelona to clinch the first of their record 36 league titles. Barcelona are now chasing their 29th crown.

Madrid seek to delay celebrations

Real Madrid are trying to postpone Barcelona's celebrations and claim a second win over Flick's side this season. The visitors are waiting to learn whether leading scorer Kylian Mbappe will be available after a thigh injury, while Vinicius Junior is expected to spearhead the attack.

He's the player who has given me the most problems.

Kounde said of Vinicius Junior.

He's a great player, very fast, and he changes direction constantly.

Madrid approach the game amid significant internal tension. Federico Valverde reportedly required stitches after a training-ground altercation with Aurelien Tchouameni, one of several such incidents. There is considerable strain around Alvaro Arbeloa's side, who are on course to end a second straight season without a major trophy.

Even so, Madrid kept Barcelona waiting last week when Vinicius scored twice in a 2-0 win over Espanyol. That result denied Barcelona the chance to wrap up the title then and spared Madrid from having to give the champions a guard of honour on Sunday.

For Barcelona, who have been hurt in Europe but have controlled the domestic campaign, beating their fiercest rivals to seal the championship would provide a strong finish to the season.