Real Madrid recovery in Barcelona proves Zidane's side want title more than Champions League

It sounds like a daft thing to say: ‘Real Madrid really want to win the league’. Don’t they always? But the answer to that question is, ‘not as much as they do this season, and boy, does it show.’

All the heroics usually reserved for the Champions League are being used to deliver the domestic title. The last time Luka Modric dropped a free-kick onto Sergio Ramos head it was the 2014 European Cup final – that goal won them a trophy, this goal takes them a huge step towards what would be only their second league trophy in eight years.

And there’s the rub. The club is what it is because of those 11 European Cups, but all the same Real Madrid can’t go so long without dominating La Liga. This was always going to be the season they really had to win La Liga – as they say in Spain ‘sí or sí’... no is not an option.

"Once again we showed our heart," said Zinedine Zidane. "Ramos always comes up with something. He never gives in. And we know how important Modric is to this team.”

Asked if the draw felt like a win, Zidane added: “No. We suffered against a very good team. It is not easy to pick up points here. We needed all of our character.”

Ramos should also send a thank you card to Arda Turan. What was he doing with the late foul on Marcelo that led to the free-kick?

Luis Enrique said as much when he declared post-match: “It’s clear that we should not give away fouls especially when the Madrid player has his back to goal.”

He will need his tin hat over the coming weeks, the Barcelona manager.knows that Barça are playing with none of their usual passing style. Their best chance in the first half came when Neymar ran on to a long pass up the pitch to Neymar who crossed for Luis Suarez.

"Should he have played Andres Iniesta from the start," he was asked after the draw. “If my grandmother had wheels she would not be my grandmother she would be a motorcycle,” he said after the game. It raised a smile in the press room but it won't amuse Barça fans.

Time will tell if he was right to protect Iniesta. If the Spain captain pops up to score the winning goal in the Champions League final he will certainly be forgiven.

By then Real Madrid will probably be celebrating the title. It’s hard to see anyone stopping them after this. They beat Atletico Madrid two weeks ago 3-0 and this was as good as a win and they did it without Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale.

The upcoming World Club Cup might take something out of them and form may drop in January but will it be enough to see them through the league away.

“We need to win every game to keep the pressure up as teams did last season to us,” said Luis Enrique. Playing this way it is hard to see them doing that.