As Real Moves Closer To La Liga Trophy, Barca Forward Admits They Let Title Slip Away

Luis Suarez has claimed that defending champions FC Barcelona have let the La Liga title slip away this season as rivals Real Madrid are just a win away from being crowned the 2019-20 Spanish champions.

Out of 36 matches Barcelona played this campaign in La Liga, they have lost five, won 24 and drawn seven in comparison to Real Madrid’s three losses, 25 wins and eight draws.

Since La Liga’s restart in June after the three-month coronavirus break, Real Madrid and Barcelona, who had been in the top of the table for the majority of the season, have played nine matches each. Out of which, Barca have drawn three, while Real have managed to win all the games and that turned the tables around in their favor.

In an interview with Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, ahead of Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Osasuna, Suarez has insisted that his side have to be “critical” of their performances this season.

"We have to be critical of ourselves. We let it [the title] escape us. We're aware that that's on us and we're not looking for any excuses. Now, for the pride of Barcelona, we have to win the two games that are left and then focus on the Champions League, which we can fight for. If we play to the level we can, we can take on anyone, but failing in one game can be costly, so we have to be vigilant," added Suarez.

Suarez, who is second to Lionel Messi in the list of Barcelona’s top goal scorers this campaign, has scored 18 goals including three in the Champions League and 15 in the La Liga.

Speaking about Barcelona’s Champions League chances this season, Suarez has asked his team to produce performances like the one they put against Villarreal, the match that the Catalans won 4-1.

"When we have to fight for important things, like the Champions League, we have to do what we did against Villarreal. If we're at 150 percent, we can do it. The game against Villarreal was a message. If we want to do it, we can do it," said Suarez.

Barcelona’s first leg of Round of 16 in the Champions League against Napoli ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning the Catalans have a crucial away goal. The second leg is scheduled to be played next month at Nou Camp. Messi and Co. have not won the prestigious European trophy since 2015, where they had defeated Juventus in the final and clinched their fifth Champions League trophy.