Barca, Real in Cup classic

Madrid, Feb. 5: One hundred days will split the last Clasico from the latest one and for Real Madrid the prize in the rematch is more than a place in the Copa del Rey final.

When they trudged off the Camp Nou in October, the big screens above them flashed 5- 1 to Barcelona, with Luis Suarez scoring three and without Lionel Messi at all, their best player injured and sitting in the stands.

The next day Julen Lopetegui was sacked, owing to what the club said was a “great disproportion between the quality of the staff of Real Madrid and results.” Barca were top of La Liga, Madrid ninth.

There will be little comfort then for Madrid that Messi could be missing again on Wednesday, a niggle in his thigh leaving coach Ernesto Valverde, and Messi, with a decision to make.

If Messi plays — and Valverde was optimistic on Sunday — it will be because he is fit. Barcelona have indicated they will not risk their captain with a gruelling month ahead.

The 2- 2 draw at home to Valencia last weekend means their lead in La Liga is six points over Real Madrid’s Spanish midfielder Isco ( centre) laughs with teammates during a training session at the club’s training ground on the outskirts of Madrid on Tuesday, eve of their Copa del Rey semifinal against Barcelona. — AFP

Atletico Madrid and eight over Real, but with games away to Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and then Real in the next four weeks, there is little room for complacency.

Dotted between are two legs against Lyon in the Champions League, the holy grail for Barcelona this season, and perhaps the one trophy they really crave after years of underachievement.

Last month, Messi even had to reject claims they

would be better off out of the Copa del Rey.

The fervour of any meeting with Real Madrid dictates it cannot be taken lightly. As Barca’s stirring comeback against Sevilla in the quarterfinals showed, the players picked will not be holding back.

But for the club, and their season, it is possible Barcelona need this match less than their opponents.

Revenge is one thing.

Madrid’s hammering in the autumn was the final humiliation at the end of a miserable run but their trajectory, despite a dip at the start of the year, has been generally upward since.

This is a chance for Madrid to wrestle back momentum. They will hope that beating Barcelona over two legs, even in the Copa del Rey, can knock them out of their stride.