When there are 10 points in between, when there is this Real Madrid, but especially this Barcelona, then everything seems to be clear. Moreover, 2nd or 3rd won’t change anything to Madrid, but the 4th place behind them is far 12 points. Not saying then that they won’t play obviously, just that this game count basically only for the honour – indeed ‘only’ isn’t a word to use easily when it is about Barca and Madrid.
Basically this is the most important test for the future of Zidane – he will probably reach the semifinals in Champions League, but it will be hard to get to the final. So the result in the upcoming game will tell about his potential: not losing will save his place; losing will open the debate about his confirmation, and the answer will come from how the defeat will come.
Barcelona have a more demanding quarterfinals vs Atletico Madrid waiting for them; but this is the game virtually to retain La Liga; and it is the Cruijff’s one. And Barcelona and Madrid simply aren’t playing this season on the same planet. Both with the 4-3-3, both with the best possible XI, Real Madrid being more balanced playing Casemiro in the middle, but the firing power of the blaugrana will take more and more space as the minutes pass by.
True, Zidane will think on how Cristiano Ronaldo can exploit the offensive positioning of Dani Alves and Mascherano, but probably will think more about the devastating effect that Neymar will have in front of Carvajal. The Camp Nou will shout Cruijjf’s name, the odds are shouting the Barcelona’s: pretty decent on them winning with at least a 2 goals gap, at 2.15.