|
BARCELONA -- Luis Enrique says that any result other than a win against Real Madrid in Sunday's Clasico would leave Barcelona's La Liga title hopes in tatters. Recent defeats at Deportivo La Coruna and Malaga have seen Barca lose ground on league leaders Madrid, who begin this weekend with a three-point cushion at the top of the table. A defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday could therefore leave Barca six points adrift of Zinedine Zidane's side, having played one game more and with just five matches of the season left to play. "It's special because of the moment of the season and also because it's a game against out great rival, who are top of the table," Luis Enrique told a news conference ahead of his last Clasico as Barca boss before he departs in the summer. "The aim is to stay loyal to our style -- it would be ridiculous not to. Any result but a win would do us no good whatsoever." However, after winning consecutive La Liga titles in his first two seasons in charge at the Camp Nou, Luis Enrique would not go as far as to say the chances of winning a third would definitely end with a loss. "It's a Clasico which could decide the league, but it could also open it up again," he said. "It's like a final for us and we have to go out and look for the win. After the result, we'll see what it means. Until it's mathematically over, no team gives up -- we certainly don't -- but with the end of the season so close, it could be decisive." Barca are hoping boost their chances of a victory by freeing Neymar up to play in Sunday's Clasico. The Brazil international is currently serving a three-game ban but the Catalan club believe if Spain's Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD) do not respond to their appeal before kickoff, they would be allowed to include him in their team against Madrid. "I'm preparing for the game with and without Neymar -- the club are right to do what they're doing with the appeal," Luis Enrique said. Asked three more times about the Neymar situation, he was unable to give any updates and would not say if he was optimistic or if the club would definitely risk playing the forward if they do not receive an answer from TAD. Other than Neymar, Barca are without injured duo Aleix Vidal and Rafinha, while Jeremy Mathieu missed training on Saturday and is a major doubt, although Arda Turan could return.
|
