Barcelona hold an 11-point advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid ahead of Saturday’s El clasico away at the Santiago Bernabeu but coach Ernesto Valverde as well as striker Luis Suarez have rejected suggestions that a win for the league leaders would effectively seal the title.
Valverde, speaking after his team’s 4-0 win at home to Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, talked down the significance of the eagerly anticipated clash.
“I don’t think a Clasico victory will give us the title,” he told a news conference. “Atletico are only six points behind. What we know is that this is a long competition, nobody will decide anything at this point. We’re heading into the game happy. We have a week of preparation left and are confident. It’s a tough game against a huge rival, but we’re eager to face them.”
Suarez, who scored twice against Deportivo, was also cautious about the implication of the game on Saturday.
El Clasico: Valverde, Suarez Adamant Result Won’t Decide LaLiga Title
