Subplots aplenty as Barcelona and Real Madrid lock horns in ‘decaf’ Clasico

The lead up to tomorrow’s late in the season La Liga Clasico has been quite unique with minds on both sides not quite as focused as usual in the days before the world’s biggest domestic club game.

Tuesday saw Real Madrid qualify for a third consecutive Champions League final in extra dramatic fashion, while on Thursday Barcelona’s squad and directors shared a meal to celebrate their already achieved La Liga and Copa del Rey double success.

Barca’s last remaining target for 2017/18 is now to become the first ever team to complete a 38-game Spanish season unbeaten — with just two further games to play after this tie to go down into history as ‘Els Invencibles’.