Barca Desperate To Maintain Unbeaten La Liga Record - Digne
Zeeshan Mehtab Published May 04, 2018 | 06:41 PM
Madrid, May 4 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Barcelona defender Lucas Digne has admitted he and his team-mates are desperate to avoid surrendering their unbeaten La Liga record to Real Madrid on Sunday.
Barca are four games away from adding a first invincible La Liga season to their domestic double but this weekend they host a Real side in form, and buoyed by their run to the Champions League final.
This Clasico at the Camp Nou may not carry much importance in terms of the table but Real's success in Europe is threatening to overshadow Barca's success in the league. Digne, speaking exclusively to AFP, said finishing the campaign undefeated has now become key.
"It's that consistency, it shows the hard work of the whole group throughout the season, it's huge," Digne said. "Of course, this is a record the team now wants to go for. It is important for us and we will give everything to hold on to it." Barca also still feel the need to atone for their Champions League collapse against Roma, which hangs over the club, despite their domestic success.
Real's subsequent march to the final has only deepened the sense of disappointment. "Real winning the Champions League is still hypothetical, it is not done yet," Digne said. "There are two sides to our season -- we would have hoped to go further in the Champions League and we thought we could have won it but that didn't happen.
"The double is still something exceptional and we are still undefeated in the league. We have to remember it is still a very strong season.
" There is an undercurrent that this meeting with Real will go some way to defining how Barcelona's season is perceived.
When it comes to El Clasico, there is no such thing as a dead rubber. "Quite simply, it's the biggest match in the world," Digne said. "There is an expectation that is just amazing and a rivalry between the two clubs that goes back a very long way.
"It is felt from the supporters, to the players, to everyone. It is really a special atmosphere." Digne is coming to the end of his second season at Barca, having joined from Paris Saint-Germain in 2016.
He remains the number two to Jordi Alba at left-back but is highly thought of by coach Ernesto Valverde, with whom he enjoys a strong relationship. "The coach has added so much to us tactically and defensively -- we are much stronger and the results prove it," Digne said.
"He asks us to defend properly because we are a team that attacks a lot. We have become more balanced and harder to beat." Real have indicated they will not be giving the champions a guard of honour but the suggestion is the teams may come together to salute Andres Iniesta, who is playing his final Clasico before leaving at the end of the season.
Digne places the 33-year-old among the finest players in the history of the game. "I am proud to have played with a player like him," Digne said. "For me he's one of the greatest players of all time, an idol on and off the field. We will do everything we can on the pitch to say thank you."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 23 April 2024
Islam enlightened world with its teachings about knowledge: Dr Jamileh
Record London close as oil prices drop on easing Middle East fears
TV tower in Kharkiv struck as Russia captured village
LCCI language courses from May 1
Governor for service oriented governance in Punjab
Survivors tell of panic at C.Africa river boat disaster
Enrolment campaign, awareness walk held in Lower Chitral
“Say no to plastic- yes to tress” campaign kicks off in Attock
'PML-N secures people's trust in by-polls'
Girl dies as pole falls in street
More Stories From Sports
-
Djokovic skips Madrid Open but is aiming for Rome
1 hour ago -
WADA: 'No credible evidence of wrongdoing' in Chinese swimming case
13 hours ago -
Actress Nazish Jahangir's Babar Azam marriage response goes viral
15 hours ago -
Italy icon Cannavaro named Udinese boss after Cioffi sacked
15 hours ago -
Sabir, Mujahid win mind game as first South Punjab Chess Fair concludes
17 hours ago -
Muhammad Amir says can’t guarantee about making mistakes
18 hours ago
-
Peshawar upset strong Swat in PM Youth Talent Hunt Boys & Girls Table Tennis
18 hours ago -
Sydney Airport sees passenger traffic closer to pre-pandemic levels
22 hours ago -
Australian swim coach rejects claims of systemic Chinese doping
1 day ago -
Chapman leads New Zealand to a comfortable victory in third T20I
1 day ago -
New Zealand outplay Pakistan by 7 wickets in third T20I
1 day ago -
FCKPK clinch Bhandara Memorial Polo Cup title
1 day ago