According to Arturo Vidal, Barcelona’s team is in “good shape” for the run-in at the end of the season and to pip Real Madrid to La Liga glory. Spain’s top-flight resumed this month with two points ahead of Madrid’s defending champions Barca, but that lead was wiped out last Friday by the Blaugrana’s stalemate with Seville.
Since the restart, Zinedine Zidane’s team has taken four out of four and is now top thanks to their superior head-to-head record against Barca, who is vying for a third title in a row.
Quique Setien ‘s men won their last Athletic club outing at home to put pressure on Madrid, but the Blancos kept their advantage by beating Mallorca 2-0 Wednesday.
Vidal is optimistic, however, that Barca can handle the rigors of a hectic schedule that will see them play seven league games within three weeks to pick up a third successive domestic crown.
He told FOX Sports: “When the games get closer together, we need to make the best use of the time we can to ensure that we go in the best possible shape for the next game. But I assume that we’re in good shape to be champions. A big factor is a great atmosphere among the team. We’ve all been close mates on the field and that helps. It’s really important because it shows. I’m happy.”
Barca’s season will not end when their La Liga campaign closes on the weekend of July 18-19 at Deportivo Alaves.
Setien ‘s side is still in the Champions League and has to play in August for the second leg of their last-16 tie with Napoli, having drawn 1-1 back in February in Italy.
The quarter-finals and semi-finals are now one-legged games in Lisbon, the city that will host the final as well, and Vidal is excited about how the Champions League will end.
“The style I prefer. If we can beat Napoli, regardless of how and where it happens, in August and over single legs, it’s going to be very strange. But all-or-nothing games are the ones I like best. In those games, I want to be relevant,” he said.
