While Barcelona's Champions League exit stings, their domestic campaign is on the brink of glory. The Blaugrana hold a commanding nine-point lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid with just seven games remaining, putting the La Liga title firmly within their grasp.

Real Madrid's recent stumble, dropping points in their last two league matches, has accelerated Barcelona's path to the trophy. If this trend continues and Barcelona keeps winning, they could mathematically clinch the championship before the next El Clásico on May 10th at Spotify Camp Nou.

This potential scenario has ignited a fresh controversy in one of football's greatest rivalries. According to reports, Real Madrid has decided they will not perform the traditional guard of honour for Barcelona if their title is sealed before the derby. This symbolic gesture, where players applaud the newly-crowned champions onto the pitch, is a storied but often contentious tradition in Spanish football.

The reported reason for snubbing the honour is rooted in the ongoing 'Negreira case,' a refereeing scandal for which Real Madrid has taken a strong institutional stance against Barcelona. This has already frayed relations between the clubs, and refusing the guard of honour would pour fuel on that fiery rivalry.

For Barcelona to win the title before the Clásico and trigger this potential standoff, they would need to extend their lead to an insurmountable 13 points. As the season races toward its climax, the battle for La Liga is becoming as much about points as it is about pride and principle, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion to this historic fixture.