Despite Barcelona trailing La Liga leaders, and arch rivals, Real Madrid, by nine points with just six games remaining, Frank Rijkaard, the Catalan’s Dutch boss, is refusing to wave the white flag. Barca’s inability to kill off teams is undermining their challenge to catch the Galacticos, so with games running out they must win this weekend.
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Barcelona’s inability to kill off rivals was exposed again last weekend, as they relinquished a 2-1 lead at Recreativo Huelva – courtesy of two Samuel Eto’o goals – to end the game 2-2. The draw saw them fall further behind La Liga leaders, Real Madrid. The Catalans have now taken just two points from their last three games, which is hardly title winning form, and several senior players have publicly admitted that they will struggle to catch Real Madrid. However, they should be able to lift themselves for Saturday’s El derbi barceloní with city rivals Espanyol, with whom there is no love lost. Rijkaard will however, no doubt have one eye on the midweek Champions League semi-final, which in the circumstances is probably the greater priority.
The return to action last weekend of Lionel Messi was the only positive from the draw at Huelva; the Argentine is likely to feature against Espanyol to improve sharpness ahead of the Man Utd encounter. The future of both Rijkaard and many of his squad could well be in question, whereas Espanyol, have only the outside chance of a UEFA Cup place to play for. Although it is a very long time since the Parakeets last won at the Nou Camp, they are unbeaten in three recent meetings, including a draw in this fixture last term.
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Real Madrid will look to maintain their nine point lead over the chasing pack this weekend, as they face an away trip to Racing Santander on Sunday. There are only six games left in La Liga, and the defending champions would dearly love to have wrapped things up before they host Barcelona on May 7th. Los Blancos’ form hasn’t been inspiring in the final third of the season – last weekend’s 1-0 win was their first clean sheet in nine games – but they have benefited from the failure of rivals to make a concerted challenge.
Racing Santander are a massive 16 points behind Real Madrid, but the fifth placed club are only two points from fourth place and Champions League qualification. This would be a first for the club that has been a perennial mid-table finisher. The motivation of playing on Europe’s biggest stage should drive the performance of Marcelino Garcia’s side up a few notches; Racing possess La Liga’s second best defensive home record behind Barcelona, and they won this fixture 2-1 last term.
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