Barcelona defender Dani Alves believes that Real Madrid cannot call themselves the real leaders until after they play the Catalans at the Bernabeu in April.
The importance of the el clasico appears to be growing in importance week by week as Barca have started to stutter. Real grabbed the leadership last weekend with a last minute goal against Sevilla but Barca let it slip after a below-par performance against Almeria where they could only draw.
Since Christmas Barca have struggled to really hit form and this of course has been due in part to the number of injuries and suspensions they have suffered. The players have correctly said that it is impossible for them always to play well, and only a look at last season shows that there were periods when they stuggled. In fact at one point at the start of Pep Guardiola’s rein there was talk of replacing him.
As with last season the game at the Bernabeu will play a big part in where the title goes and it has to be seen whether Barca can produce the kind of performance they did a year ago when they produced a memorable win.
“I do not consider Madrid to be the real leaders, this all depends on what happens at the Bernabeu. It would be a key win if we managed it but of course it would not be decisive either way. I don’t think we should compare this season with the last one as we are doing better in some ways and worse in others. Each year is different,” said Alves.
“I would say Barca are still the favourites to win. The title will be decided in the last few weeks as always and Real will have to do very well if they are going to win because we will make it difficult for them. We will try and make it impossible for them to win.”
Barcelona will surely win the cup because they are simply the best,competition is very important in football therefore its okay for madrid to top the league because this will make barcelona stronger and like Alves puts it, barcer will make it very difficult for them…GO BARCER GO!