The final stretch of the season has arrived, and having spent the whole season leading the pack in La Liga, Barcelona are starting to think about how early they can bring home the title. On their march to victory, they may have found an unlikely ally: Real Madrid.
Real Madrid helping Barcelona out is not something that happens very often. However, the ever-burning rivalry between Spain's, and arguably the world's, two biggest teams will be extinguished for just a few hours on Saturday, when Real take on Atletico Madrid, Barca's only competition for the 2017/18 La Liga title.
Barcelona could end Saturday with a 12 point lead over Diego Simeone's side if the Catalans can beat Leganes at the Camp Nou. Furthermore, they can also equal Real Sociedad's La Liga record unbeaten streak of 38 games.
Ernesto Valverde's side could 'gain' up to six points over the whole weekend if Real beat Atletico on Sunday. 'Los Blancos', with one foot in the Champions League semi-finals, will be raring to beat their rivals in the Madrid derby, especially given the added motivation of trying to nick second place from Atletico, who currently enjoy a four point advantage over them.
That being said, a win for Real would make Barca lifting the title pretty certain, and it could set up a highly undesirable situation for Zidane's side: having to give their rivals a guard of honour when they face them at the Camp Nou on May 6. Despite this sickening prospect for Real fans, there is no doubt that Zidane will go for it against his side's other rivals, Atletico.
And so begins a vital week for the final standings of La Liga 17/18. 'Los Blancos' will have one eye on the table and one eye on the calendar, as they try to catch up to one rival, while begrudgingly helping their other rival.