Down to the wire: Madrid and Barça's fixtures after El Clasico

It's time for notes, calculators,and highlighters. There are 12 games left for Real Madrid and Barcelona to finish one of the tightest LaLiga contests in recent years so far. And, if neither team drops the ball, a final round of matches with the title at stake is approaching.

Real Madrid won El Clasico, but it could have easily gone to either side. Barcelona did not take advantage of their chances and occasions, and with the entire Stangio Bernabeu stadium rooting against them, Real Madrid finally got a victory in El Clasico. 

Now, with the end of the season fast approaching, the calendar becomes tighter than ever... But what is left for the two Spanish giants? From the hand of ProFootball DB, the BeSoccer data lab, we take a look at the key clashes ahead to determine if  club will be able to tip the scales in their favour. 

Match by match, day by day

Six duels at home, six duels away for each team. The two will have to visit difficult stadiums and, likewise, will reach the final day far from their comfort zone.

Two important events are just around the corner for the two title hopefuls. Next weekend, Real Madrid, now top of the standings with a one-point advantage - through goal average - will visit the Real Betis grounds, an always difficult stadium against a needy Real Betis, with many doubts the last few weeks. Barcelona plays at home, but the morale after a loss to their biggest rivals could impact their performance against a difficult rival: Real Sociedad.

On the matchday 28, Madrid will return to the Santiago Bernabéu to host Eibar, while Setien's team will pack its bags to go to Mallorca.

And things only get worse from matchday 29. Valencia will host Zidane's men at home, where they usually prove much more dangerous. That same week, Barça will play at the Camp Nou against Leganés.

Difficult travels for matchday 30. Madrid will play against Real Sociedad in the Reale Arena, while Barcelona travel to Seville to face Julen Lopetegui's men at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. 

Nor will they have any comfortable rivals in the next two weeks. Barcelona will challenge Athletic in Barcelona and Celta in Vigo. Zidane and his team will play against Mallorca and Espanyol, two teams that, at least for the moment, are playing to avoid relegation.

The next two matchdays may mark the end of the league. In matchday 33, Getafe will visit the Bernabéu, while Atlético will play in the Camp Nou. In matchday 34, Madrid and Barça will play away against Athletic and Villarreal, respectively.

From there, the final sprint for the title will begin: Madrid will play against Alavés (home), Granada (away), Villarreal (home) and Leganés (away); while Barça will be playing against Espanyol (home), Real Valladolid (away), Osasuna (home) and Alavés (away).

The Champions League, a measuring board

Beyond the LaLiga occurrences, what Real Madrid and Barcelona offer in the Champions League can directly influence what happens in the LaLiga. Both positively and negatively.

If either team is left without a place in the UCL, their mood and performance could suffer. However, it could also be a blessing in disguise: fewer games to play, more time to focus on LaLiga's final run.