Barcelona refuse to throw in the towel in LaLiga title race as El Cláscio looms

Real Madrid have topped the LaLiga EA Sports table since matchday 18 and as Girona’s brave title bid seems to have faltered with the Catalan side falling once again on Saturday in Getafe (1-0), it looks like two familiar faces will push for the domestic crown as the title race enters the final stretch.

Just nine games of the season remain in the current campaign with 27 points up for grabs and with most analysts tipping Real Madrid for the title from the outset, despite not displaying their most breathtaking brand of football this season, FC Barcelona are still very much in the mix following a morale boosting 0-3 away win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.

At present, eight points seperate ‘Los Blancos’ from Xavi Hernandez’s men at the summit of the table and despite the clear advantage, a forthcoming trip for the Catalan side to the Bernabéu and an arguably more favourable run-in have delivered a charge of optimism for Cules. The key to mounting a serious title challenge for Barça, however, is a win in the Spanish capital when both sides face off in El Clásico on 21 April with the Catalan side having no margin for error.

Madrid’s games in April could be instrumental in determining the title with Ancelotti’s side facing the trickier tests (Athletic and Barça at home along with away trips to Mallorca and Real Sociedad) interspersed with the Champions League quarter-final clash against Manchester City before a easier round of games (on paper, at least) coming up in May for Los Blancos.

LaLiga now takes a break as players head off on international duty with matchday 30 set to see Barcelona face mid-table Las Palmas in Montjuic whilst Real Madrid welcome fourth placed Athletic Club to the Santiago Bernabéu on 31 March.