Barcelona aren't having a very successful season which is a truth. The point losses they made earlier caused them to fall from the title race very quickly. Now the gap is eight points while we are in last nine weeks of the season. Real Madrid just need to make a terrible mistake from now on to let Barcelona jump in the race again. I don't expect that to happen. I'm just curious about who they will bring in Xavi's place after his announcement to leave.
It would be very surprising if Real Madrid had to make a big mistake that would open up opportunities for their rivals to continue competing with them until the end of the season. The reason is that with the range of points they have now, they should be able to focus more on each match so that they can always secure 3 points from the matches they play. They cannot afford to make any mistakes that will cost them points, my draw will keep them closer to their rivals this season.
Ancelotti must be able to ensure that his current team can always perform optimally in every match. Every match towards the end of this season is a very decisive match, and they must be able to win the title as soon as possible, so they can relax more. The reason is that they also have a very difficult match in the Champions League, where they have to face Manchester City in the quarter-finals. It won't be easy for them to beat Manchester City, they even have a smaller chance than their opponents in the Champions League.