Real Madrid: Los Blancos' Season Hinges on Champions League Tie

The next week will make or break Real Madrid's season.

And even that's putting it lightly.

On Saturday, Real Madrid will head to the Nou Camp to take on arch rival Barcelona in the umpteenth edition of "El Clasico" to have been played during the 2011-12 campaign.

Except, this time, the result will really mean something.

No, really; if Los Blancos lose, they'll see their cushion atop La Liga shrink to a single point, with four more domestic matches to be played thereafter.

The last thing they want to see is the hated Blaugrana charge back from a seemingly insurmountable deficit in the Primera Division standings to claim the title for a fourth year in a row.

Should that fall through, Madrid would be left without any domestic silverware whatsoever, a year after claiming the Copa del Rey for the first time in nearly two decades.

That, too, will likely end up in Barca's hands after the May 25th final against Athletic Bilbao.

Then, the following Wednesday, Los Blancos will head back to the Santiago Bernabeu for the return leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich.

With plenty of work to do, mind you.

The Bavarians will walk onto Madrid's grounds with the odds in their favor after securing a 2-1 victory at Allianz Arena on Tuesday thanks to goals from Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez.

Of course, defending that advantage will be no easy task for Bayern: They will be facing a Real attack that's bagged 22 goals in five Champions League home games this season.

Still, if Los Blancos falter, for whatever reason, they'll be left on the outside looking in, perhaps while Barca move on to the Champions League final after Tuesday's second leg against Chelsea.

Combine that with the aforementioned danger of dropping in Spain, and Madrid could find themselves without a single trophy to show for their efforts this season.

Even with a cast comprising world-class talents like Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Iker Casillas, to name but a few.

Even with "The Special One" orchestrating the entire operation.

This campaign could very well end up like so many before it—with Madrid sitting at home, hoping for better luck next year.

With their mortal enemies celebrating another rousing success of a season as the world's preeminent football club.

All of which speaks to the importance of the next seven days for Real Madrid.

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