Joan Laporta sends demand to Barcelona squad for Real Madrid showdown | OneFootball

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has on Thursday sent a crystal clear message to the club’s playing squad.

This comes ahead of their impending showdown with arch rivals Real Madrid this weekend.

Fresh off being sent packing from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, Xavi’s Barca will now be forced to turn their attentions swiftly back towards matters on the domestic front.

As much comes with a La Liga meeting with the aforementioned Real in store, in the latest edition of El Clásico on Sunday night.

The Blaugrana will head into proceedings in the knowledge that nothing but a victory will suffice, with a defeat or even a draw likely to bring an end to their feint hopes of retaining the club’s Spanish top-flight crown.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, it therefore came as little surprise when Joan Laporta made use of the opportunity to send an unwavering message to Xavi’s squad.

“We have to go to Madrid and win on Sunday,” he confirmed.

Conor Laird | GSFN