Real Madrid offer Barcelona early Christmas present

Real Madrid’s defeat to Athletic Club at San Mamés has allowing Barcelona back into the driving seat in LaLiga, with the Catalans regaining their four-point lead after a 5-1 victory over Mallorca the previous day. Carlo Ancelotti’s team still have one game in hand, the postponed match against Valencia at Mestalla, which has been rescheduled for January 2.

Barcelona’s objectives for 2025

With their advantage restored, Hansi Flick’s team have four games left before the Christmas break and two clear objectives: they will aim to start 2025 as LaLiga leaders and secure their spot in the Champions League round of 16. Before December 21, Barça will play three league fixtures and one Champions League encounter.

Their next match is on Saturday at 10:15 a.m. ET away to Real Betis, a game in which Flick hopes Barcelona can definitively leave behind their disastrous November, which the German described as a “shit November” after their win in Mallorca.

Defeats to Real Sociedad and Las Palmas, along with a draw away to Celta Vigo, had seen the five-time European champions surrender the big lead they had built up in the first few weeks of the season.

Following the game against Betis, who only just sneaked past fourth-tier Sant Andreu in the Copa del Rey in midweek, Barcelona will travel to Dortmund to face the Champions League runners-up on December 11.

Champions League qualification close

The matchup in Germany could be crucial in determining their chances of finishing in the top eight of the Champions League group stage, thus avoiding the round of 32 in an already packed January schedule.

Barça and Dortmund are currently tied with 12 points in the Champions League standings, but the Catalans sit in third place due to their better goal difference. A win would almost guarantee a top-eight finish with two games to spare.

After these trips to Seville and Dortmund, Barcelona will stay home for the rest of the year. They will host Leganés on Sunday, December 15, before finishing the first half of LaLiga season with a high-stakes game against Atlético Madrid, currently their closest pursuers in the standings.

Original article written by Santi Giménez, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Roddy Cons.

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