Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Assessing the remaining schedules after El Clasico
"We have not lost La Liga ... We have to fight until the end."
That was the message from Real Madrid defender Pepe following his side's 2-1 loss in the latest installment of El Clasico on Sunday – a result which sees the capital-based club fall four points behind their perennial rivals Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table.
Many are dismissing Pepe's statement as an inevitable claim from a player with no choice but to say such a thing. After all, with only 10 matches remaining on the Liga schedule, it seems very unlikely that Barca will drop any points at all – let alone the four they need to lose for Madrid to reclaim top spot.
Could it happen, though? Technically, of course. Given the remaining fixtures for both clubs, maybe Pepe isn't just talking nonsense after all.
Note: Only La Liga fixtures included
Barcelona
Date | Opponent | Home / Away |
---|---|---|
April 5 | Celta Vigo | Away |
April 8 | Almeria | Home |
April 11 | Sevilla | Away |
April 19 | Valencia | Home |
April 26 | Espanyol | Away |
April 29 | Getafe | Home |
May 3 | Cordoba | Away |
May 10 | Real Sociedad | Home |
May 17 | Atletico Madrid | Away |
May 24 | Deportivo | Home |
Real Madrid
Date | Opponent | Home / Away |
---|---|---|
April 5 | Granada | Home |
April 8 | Rayo Vallecano | Away |
April 11 | Eibar | Home |
April 19 | Malaga | Home |
April 26 | Celta Vigo | Away |
April 29 | Almeria | Home |
May 3 | Sevilla | Away |
May 10 | Valencia | Home |
May 17 | Espanyol | Away |
May 24 | Getafe | Home |
Notes
- Each side still has to make a trip to Sevilla, who have not lost a home match all season and have conceded only seven goals in 14 matches at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
- The two clubs also host Valencia, who are undefeated in seven matches (six wins) and have catapulted up to third in the table.
- For Barcelona, the two aforementioned fixtures come back-to-back, and are sandwiched by the Champions League quarterfinal tie against Paris Saint-Germain (April 15 and 21). If they are going to drop points, that seems like the most likely time.
- Barcelona's penultimate match, against Atletico Madrid, looms large as one that could have late title implications, even if the latter are well out of the race to defend their crown.
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