No let up in rivalry

> Clasico as tense as ever despite Barca title triumph as Real rules out guard of honour <

THERE MAY be nothing tangible at stake given Barcelona sealed their seventh La Liga title in 10 seasons last weekend, but when Real Madrid visit Catalonia on Sunday it will be a thunderous affair.

Clasicos are always intense battles and Madrid are looking for revenge after their 3-0 home humiliation by Barcelona in December. Los Blancos secured their place in the Champions League final with a 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday, looking to win the competition for a record 13th time, which would pour cold water on Barcelona’s double celebrations.

In 2016 Barcelona won La Liga and the Copa del Rey, like this year, but Real Madrid went on to lift the Champions League, which diminished the achievements of the Catalans in the view of the Spanish media and the public.

Unbeaten champions Barcelona are top with 86 points from 34 games, while Madrid are third, 15 points behind and also with four games left.

Madrid defender Sergio Ramos stoked up tension ahead of the Clasico by saying a Champions League triumph would be worth more than Barcelona’s double.

“Barca have had a great year, they have won two titles. Winning the cup has merit and the league even more so. Winning the Champions League is a positive that is equivalent to those two or even more.” said Ramos.

Ramos also backed coach Zinedine Zidane’s decision not to give Barcelona a guard of honour before the game in honour of their trophy wins this season.

“What Zidane says is gospel. We’re making too much fuss out of all this,” said Ramos, who is desperate to inflict Barca’s first league defeat of the campaign.

“Barca have the title, which is what they wanted, but there will be no guard of honour, full stop.”

Almost everything is wrapped up in La Liga, with Deportivo La Coruna, Las Palmas and Malaga all relegated and Valencia all but assured of finishing fourth, in a position to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Real Betis, fifth, and Villarreal, sixth, are close to sealing their Europa League qualifying positions, but seventh place is still up for grabs.

After Barcelona won the Copa del Rey the extra Europa League place became available for the team that finishes seventh in the league. – dpa