Hansi Flick's FC Barcelona is the team in the best form this season. They have played 19 games and won 15. They have stumbled 4 times so far this season, losing 3 times and drawing 1. The most notable thing is not the results, but the superiority and the good feelings they have shown against almost all their rivals. Now, with 6 games left, they can become winter champions in LaLiga, which is reasonable given that they are in first place, and leaders in the Champions League, which is more complicated given that they are third.
The good news is that the Barça infirmary could significantly reduce the number of patients. Currently, it is made up of Ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Christensen, Lamine Yamal, Ferrán Torres and Ansu Fati. The first two are practically ruled out of returning this season. For his part, the Danish centre-back will be available in January. However, the three Spanish attackers will return in stages for these last matches.
The five LaLiga games will not be easy
In the domestic competition, the Blaugrana team occupies the top of the table with 34 points, collected in 14 matches. They are closely followed by Real Madrid, with 30 points and one game less. 'Los Blancos' will not play that game that they have left until January, so Barça has an advantage to reach the Christmas break as leaders. However, Hansi Flick's pupils cannot relax and must try to win the 15 points that are still up for grabs.
This weekend, FC Barcelona host Las Palmas, who will arrive with 4 ex-culés in their squad. The island team is seventeenth in the table, two points above the relegation zone. Despite being a difficult team, the Blaugrana team must win the match due to the superiority of their squad. The following matches are no walk in the park: Mallorca and Betis away from home and Leganés and Atlético in Montjuic. A very tight end to the year, which will require a lot of discipline, but which has the reward of staying in first place.
The last match of the year in the Champions League will be in Dortmund
The national league monopolizes the end of 2024 for the culé, but Europe has a tough end for Barcelona. It will be against Borussia Dortmund, as a visitor. The duel will take place on December 7, after the match against Real Betis. The German team is not doing the best in their country's championship, but in the Champions League they are fourth in the table. They are tied on points (12) with Barça and have only lost one game, against Real Madrid, winning the rest.
In case of winning, and with a certain carom, the Catalan club could go into the break as the leader in Europe. They are above Liverpool (15 points) and Inter (13 points). To end the year above them, the English team would have to lose at Montilivi against Girona and the 'nerazzurri' would not win away against Bayer Leverkusen. It seems complicated, especially the first one, but nothing is impossible.