Tradition is important
Barcelona were said to be in crisis lasts summer, having lost Neymar and spent a huge chunk of the fee on Paulinho and Ousmane Dembélé, who suffered a hamstring injury only a few games into his Barça career. It seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Real Madrid would stroll to another league victory after the way they ended last season, swatting everyone aside in emphatic style.
But football is full of surprises, and quite the opposite happened. Ernesto Valverde tweaked Barça’s system around the loss of Neymar, while Madrid dropped points left, right and centre, allowing the Catalan club to take a substantial lead. Now, the title race is all but over, with Barcelona set to regain the title.
Traditionally, the title winners would receive a guard of honour from their rivals in the clásico, should the fixture happen after the league has been clinched by either team. However, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has come out and said that his side will not uphold this tradition when the sides meet on May 6th.
Madrid won the Club World Cup in December but Barcelona did not give them a guard of honour. “Barcelona broke the tradition”, Zidane said.
The Madrid boss therefore feels no obligation to give one to Barcelona.
“I don’t know how much you are going to ask me but my response is very clear,” Zidane said to reporters on Saturday.
“It is my decision and that is it.
“I don’t understand the guard of honour and it won’t take place, although we are far from the end of the season.”
Real Madrid are 14 points behind Barcelona in 3rd, while Atlético Madrid sit between the two sides on 67 points in second.
Eight games remain in the season and the likelihood is that Barça will have wrapped up the league by the time of the next clásico, which will further fuel the flames of rivalry for that encounter at the Camp Nou.
