Barcelona must give up La Liga ambitions to focus on Europa League success to build team for next season

Barcelona can't be sure that they will beat Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night — but now is the time for them to give up on chasing La Liga. It is a credit to new manager Xavi Hernandez and his resurgent squad that this even became a consideration. Well off the pace when he returned from Qatar to take over, with problems mounting on and off the pitch, they have nevertheless kept the title mathematically in play.

Ad/> Still now, they could seize the chance if Carlo Ancelotti’s team Devon Loch it. Liga'Lewandowski could play for resurgent Barca' — Inside Europe11/04/2022 AT 14:36 Even if, as the Sopranos points out, Nobody Knows Anything, you still have to play the odds. After the international break this was the chance for Barcelona to put on the pressure.

Had Real slipped up and the Catalans kept up their own fine form, then it would be worth subjecting Real’s positive mental attitude to some thorough examination. Instead, they came through the test, and now have the confidence garnered from dealing with Chelsea. Real have eight games left in the league.

They currently have a 12-point lead over Barcelona, who have nine matches remaining. Real's 'confidence overdose' almost cost them against Chelsea — Inside Europe Tuchel slams ref for 'smiling and laughing loud' with Ancelotti Conte tests positive for Covid, expected to be in dugout on Saturday The club know that they are well set up with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe almost certain, and players like Luka Modric and Karim Benzema might be wondering if this is their last tilt at a Champions League title with the club — as could some of the fringe players who are certainly staring an exit in the face. Assuming Barcelona win their game, they will have nine points to make