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Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Loss Puts Heavy Pressure on Barca in Champions League

Wes ODonnell@wesodonnellX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 23, 2012

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 21:  Christian Tello of FC Barcelona reacts after missing a chance to score during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on April 21, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
David Ramos/Getty Images

Real Madrid's El Clásico win puts them seven points clear of Barcelona for the La Liga title—a defecit the Catalan giants are unlikely to make up.

Barca has won the title in the past three seasons, and five times in the last seven years. The only other team to win in that span is Los Blancos when they won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008.

The Catalan giants' dominance is well documented, as is Real Madrid's recent propensity to fall short. But now the script is flipped and Barcelona is in a relatively unknown world.

Essentially, Barca is out of the running for the Spanish league title, thus, all their focus must shift to the Champions League semifinal clash this week against Chelsea.

Already down 1-0 on aggregate, Pep Guardiola's squad has to find a way to rally and win at Camp Nou over the Premier League powerhouse, or their season will be relegated to a chance for Copa Del Ray glory only.

They shouldn't have trouble knocking off Athletic Bilbao in late May at the Vincente Calderon Stadium, but that is hardly the only trophy Barca wants this year.

Last year's Champions League winners want nothing more than to get a potential shot at redemption against Real Madrid should Los Blancos rally from a one-goal deficit against German side Bayern Munich in their respective semifinal.

It should come as no surprise that the two sides are competing in both competitions, as top scorers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been in top form all season, and it would be fitting if the UEFA Champions League title came down to them as well.

But that is far from guaranteed, and all the pressure is on Barcelona now. They have no chance at a fourth La Liga title, but a repeat Champions League title is very much in reach.