La Liga: Barcelona, Real Madrid Brace for Title-Deciding Clásico

Barcelona must recover from their painful Champions League exit in time to face Real Madrid on Sunday with the La Liga title on the line.

- AGENCIES

Barcelona must recover from their painful Champions League exit in time to face Real Madrid on Sunday with the La Liga title on the line. Hansi Flick's team were moments away from reaching their first European final in a decade when Inter Milan conjured a 4-3 extra-time comeback on Wednesday (IST). The Italian side won 7-6 on aggregate in one of the most memorable knockout ties in recent football history.

A title-deciding 'Clásico' between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid is the standout game in La Liga 2024-25 season this weekend, but there are also vital matchups with regard to the race for Europe and the struggle to avoid relegation. Real Madrid travel to Barcelona for the fourth meeting between the two sides this season, four points behind Barca in the title race with four games to play. A win for Carlo Ancelotti's side would drag it right back into the title mix, while defeat means their title hopes are over. Barcelona lead Madrid by four points and a victory would give them a comfortable cushion, but a Madrid win would throw open the title chase in the three remaining rounds. Barcelona have won the three previous meetings, with a 4-0 victory in the Santiago Bernabéu, followed by a 5-2 thrashing of Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and a thrilling 3-2 win in the Copa del Rey final, which implies that Hansi Flick's team is favourite for a win to virtually assure the title.