Having fallen 12 points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race, Real Madrid’s focus could now switch on to other competitions, with the Champions League and Copa del Rey still up for grabs this season.
However, their involvement in the latter could be ended on Wednesday, when they take on Barcelona in the second leg of their semi-final tie. Xavi Hernandez’s side are 1-0 up from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Real Madrid are still in with a shout of progressing.
With Wednesday’s match in mind, Carlo Ancelotti could make changes for Sunday’s La Liga fixture against Real Valladolid, which could allow Vinicius Tobias to make his first team debut.
The 19-year-old, who is on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk but expected to join permanently this summer, is training with Ancelotti’s squad ahead of the match, as per Guillermo Rai. Ancelotti could drop under-fire Dani Carvajal, which would leave Lucas Vazquez and Tobias as the two options at right back.
Right back has become a problem position for Real Madrid, but Sunday’s match could be the first opportunity to establish Tobias at the long term holder of the position.
Pep Guardiola gives his take on Manchester City’s treble chances
He won it all during his spell at Barcelona but Guardiola has struggled to translate City’s domestic dominance into European success.
Manchester City face Liverpool this afternoon, the side who has been their closest rivals in the Premier League over the past five years. City have won four of the last five Premier League titles, narrowly edging out Liverpool on two occasions, but have failed to lift the Champions League during Pep Guardiola’s time in charge.
Ahead of the clash with Liverpool the City coach was asked about the prospect of winning the ‘Treble’ of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup this season.
“I’ve said many times, just one team has won the Treble because it’s so difficult,” Guardiola replied. “That’s why we don’t think [about it]… We have this game then a long week and then a tough schedule.
The only English side to win all three major honours in a single season was the Manchester United side of 1998/99.
“The most important thing is still we are fighting in all competitions and that is so good”, the City boss insisted. “What we’ve lived in the past, there is a tendency to drop. To do it for 10 or 11 months is so difficult - still we are there.”
Guardiola remains focused on Arsenal pursuit
Despite being eight behinds behind league leaders Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand on the Gunners, Guardiola said that he is confident that his team can still lift the title. City have 11 games remaining and in recent years have shown incredible consistency during the crucial final months of the season.
“There are a lot of games of football left and a lot of things can happen. We don’t feel as though Arsenal will drop many points but hopefully we can be there as long as possible,” Guardiola said.
“I would love to be in Arsenal’s position but until the last moment we will fight. We have done it for many, many years. It is step by step, game by game and we will see what happens.”
“To be in contention for all the competitions, this is amazing. When you win you have the tendency to drop a bit but we are still there and this makes me happy.”