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Analysis: Four things to look out for in Spain's Matchday 32

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, April 19, 2024
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MADRID, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The 'Clasico' between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will be the highlight of matchday 32 in La Liga and could all-but decide this season's title race. Here are four things to look out for over the weekend in Spain.

REAL MADRID'S MORALE TO SEE THEM HOME

Real Madrid were outplayed for almost 120 minutes away to Manchester City on Wednesday night and still managed to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League after a dramatic penalty shootout.

The fact that Carlo Ancelotti's men spent nearly all of that game pinned back in their own penalty area and still emerged triumphant, should give a massive boost to Madrid's already sky-high morale, and they go into the match having already beaten Barcelona 2-1 in the Camp Nou and 4-1 in the Spanish Supercup final in Saudi Arabia.

A win would put Madrid 11 points clear of their nearest rivals with just six games left to play and leave them able to focus on their European ambitions.

EUROPEAN EXIT A HUGE BLOW TO BARCA

Barcelona's 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday looks as if it has had the opposite effect on the Catalan club, who need to win in the Bernabeu to keep their slim title hopes alive.

The defeat to Paris looks to have opened up some splits in the dressing room, with Ilkay Gundogan criticizing some individual errors that were so expensive on Tuesday night and Jules Kounde and Ronaldo Araujo both answering him back.

Such is the atmosphere that Xavi Hernandez gave his squad Thursday off to allow things to cool down.

The Santiago Bernabeu and its hostile atmosphere is probably the worst place to go if you can't present a united front and with Xavi stepping down at the end of the season, there is very much an 'end of era' feel about this Barca side that could be very dangerous for them on Sunday.

BIG CHANCE FOR GIRONA TO MOVE CLOSER TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Girona entertain Cadiz this weekend sitting third in La Liga and with an eight-point lead over fifth place Athletic Bilbao. Although Michel Sanchez's side lost 3-1 away to Atletico Madrid last Saturday, they can feel hard done to after being denied what looked to be a clear penalty with the score 1-1, and missed several decent chances, while Atletico took all of theirs.

Girona now take on Cadiz, who travel to the north-east of Spain third from bottom of the table and three points from safety.

Although Cadiz have improved with the arrival of Mauricio Pellegrino and the signing of striker Juanmi, they are still one of the most limited sides in La Liga and Girona's wingers Savio and Yan Couto will expect to enjoy themselves and retain that eight-point cushion.

BATTLE FOR EUROPE GETS INTERESTING

The fact that the sixth place in La Liga will give a place in next season's Europa League, while seventh will see its occupier into the Conference League means that Valencia, Betis and Villarreal can look at the run in to the season with optimism, as they all have a decent chance of European competition.

Villarreal visit bottom of the table Almeria, while Valencia can move level on points with sixth place Real Sociedad if they win at home to Betis.

Ruben Baraja has done an excellent job at Valencia with limited resources, with striker Hugo Duro having an excellent season leading an attack made up of youngsters. Enditem

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