The Barcelona team takes on the challenge of Santiago Bernabeu – “There's the league”

“There is the league” he declared Barcelona President Joan Laporta at the Mobile World Congress on Tuesday, denying that the title race is over despite the eight-point gap between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top of the table. If the Blaugrana can reach their targets in the next month, then that may be the case.

Their goal is to close the gap with their arch rivals by at least two points by the time they arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu on the weekend of April 21. AS Diary they say that the goal of being only six points behind Real Madridin the knowledge that a win in the Spanish capital will blow the title race wide open, reducing it to just three points between them with seven games to go.

Theory is easier than reality. Both have five league games and Champions League duties in the meantime, and Barcelona have the toughest fixture list, starting with a trip to San Mames to face Athletic Club this Sunday. After that, the Blaugrana host Real Mallorca, before going on the toughest trip in Spain, Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. Cadiz away and Las Palmas at home also await before the big date at the Bernabeu.

Meanwhile Real Madrid head to Mestalla to face Valencia this weekend, before hosting Celta Vigo and Athletic Club, combined with trips to Osasuna and Real Mallorca.

There is little doubt that Barcelona's performances against Napoli and Getafe have been improved, but it feels as if they will need to be flawless in a five-game run that includes European fixtures and two of the toughest games on the schedule. , in a season that has been. full of mistakes and missed opportunities.