Real Madrid, Barcelona set for El Clásico clash

Barcelona have won the La Liga title but their toughest test is yet to come as the Spanish giant will face their arch rivals Real Madrid in the El Clásico this Sunday at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona have already set new records for the longest unbeaten run (41 games) in the history of La Liga and for the most games unbeaten at the start of a season (34). The run started after a loss away from home to Malaga on April 8 of last year.

If Barcelona can extend the run over the four games remaining in this 2018 campaign then they will become the first Spanish team to go undefeated in a 38-game La Liga season.

The last team to go unbeaten through an entire top-flight season in Spain was Real Madrid in 1932 but back then the season comprised only 18 games and the league just 10 teams.

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This season Real Madrid could not stop Barcelona completing an 8th domestic double (La Liga and Copa del Rey) but bringing the home side’s unbeaten run to a halt and beating Barcelona for the first time since a 2-1 win at the Camp Nou over two years ago would offer some consolation in terms of the rivalry.

There is also the scoring race between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.  In league goals, Messi leads all scorers in Europe in the Golden Boot standings – awarded to Europe’s top scorer. Messi is currently two goals ahead of Mo Salah but the Liverpool striker only has a maximum of two games left to play.

Messi has scored 32 league goals in 33 La Liga games while an early-season injury has restricted Cristiano Ronaldo to 25 games and 24 goals.

Messi has a one-goal edge on Ronaldo when the criterion is extended to goals in all club competitions. Messi has 43 goals in 51 games; Ronaldo 42 goals in 41 games.

So the stage is set for the biggest Spanish rivalry, let’s see who comes out on top.