Barcelona title win edges closer as Hansi Flick’s side face Real Madrid amid growing unrest in the Spanish club
FC Barcelona stand on the brink of another La Liga triumph as a draw against fierce rivals Real Madrid on Sunday would secure back-to-back league titles for the Catalan side.
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Coach Hansi Flick has guided Barcelona into a dominant position with an 11-point lead over Madrid, leaving the club within touching distance of a memorable Barcelona title win.
Victory in the latest Clasico would also keep Barcelona on course to equal the all-time La Liga record of 100 points if they win their remaining four league matches this season.
The Catalan club could also become the first side to win every home match in a 38-game La Liga campaign should they overcome Madrid and defeat Real Betis next weekend.
The high-stakes encounter comes amid growing turmoil inside the Madrid camp following a dressing-room confrontation involving midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde.
The clash reportedly left Valverde requiring hospital treatment for a head injury and sidelined for two weeks.
Valverde later said he had accidentally hit a table during the disagreement, causing a cut to his forehead, but the incident failed to ease tensions surrounding the club.
Madrid imposed fines of 500,000 euros on both players after they apologised to teammates, club staff and supporters.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa defended the players while confirming that Tchouameni would still be available for the Clasico.
“For me, that’s enough,” Arbeloa said of the apologies. “What I’m not going to do is burn them at the stake in public.”
Reacting to the controversy, Flick acknowledged that such incidents can happen in football but stressed the unity within the Barcelona squad.
“The most important thing, and what I really appreciate a lot in this club, is that we are all going the same way,” Flick told reporters.
The German manager added that everyone at Barcelona remained aligned behind the club’s objectives as they push towards another league crown.
Barcelona could also become the first team since 1932 to mathematically secure the La Liga title through a Clasico victory over Madrid.
Madrid, however, will be without star forward Kylian Mbappe, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury despite returning to training on Friday.
Barcelona will also miss teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, whose own hamstring injury is expected to keep him out until the World Cup.
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The latest Clasico arrives with Barcelona seeking history and Madrid battling internal unrest after a trophyless campaign that has intensified pressure around the Spanish giants.
