Barcelona’s golden chance to make a statement before the Madrid derby | OneFootball

Hansi Flick made it clear before the match against Alaves that, for Barcelona, every game feels like a final and Real Madrid’s defeat has now given them added motivation to close the gap.

Despite trailing Madrid by seven points, all is not lost for Barcelona. Real Madrid’s unexpected defeat has opened a glimmer of hope and Barcelona must seize this opportunity against Alaves.

If Barcelona manage to get the three points, they will narrow the gap with the league leaders, Real Madrid, to just four points.

At present, Real Madrid holds 49 points, only one point ahead of Atletico Madrid, who secured a 2-0 win against Real Mallorca on Saturday.

A victory for Barcelona would take them to 45 points, placing them in third place. This would leave them just three points behind Atletico and four behind Real Madrid.

Every match is crucial for Barcelona

The timing is crucial because the following weekend (February 8), there will be a Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barcelona currently have an advantage. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

A draw between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid would be the ideal result for Barcelona, as both teams would drop points.

A victory for either team would still help Barcelona, but a draw is perhaps the best outcome for Hansi Flick’s side.

Looking ahead, Barcelona’s challenge will not end with Alaves. After the Madrid derby, Barcelona will travel to Sevilla. This match is scheduled for Sunday, February 9, the day after the Madrid derby.

Looking ahead

Barcelona’s recent record at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium has been strong, with no losses there since the 2015/16 season. In the past eight seasons, Barcelona has secured five wins and three draws in their visits to Sevilla.

They have also won the last three encounters at the venue. A victory in this match would bring Barcelona even closer to the top of the league, making it a golden opportunity to revive their title challenge.

This stretch of matches could prove pivotal for Barcelona’s season, and securing maximum points from these upcoming games will be crucial if they want to remain in the title race.