Barcelona are scheduled to play after both Madrid clubs, so the Catalans will go into this game knowing what is required, as if they didn’t already! Last week it was the same thing: Barca knew that both Real and Atletico Madrid had won, but still Luis Enrique and his men failed to take any points, let alone three, against Valencia.
Having bounced back in midweek with an 8-0 demolition of Deportivo, I think that Barcelona will be extremely motivated. All of their players know that losing further points could, and very likely would, cost them the title. They should be winning this game with a certain amount of ease against lowly Sporting Gijon, a team who are fighting to stay in the division. Abelardo’s team is facing the drop, and when in desperate need of points, the last place you want to be going to is the Camp Nou.
I’d like to go for over 4.5 goals here. Barcelona scored eight against Deportivo La Coruna, and there is no logical reason as to why they won’t score for fun once again today.