MADRID: Barcelona, fresh from their controversial Champions League semi-final victory over Chelsea, will be crowned Spanish league champions for the 19th time tomorrow if results go their way.
Barcelona have a seven-point cushion at the top and can lift the title if they defeat Villarreal at Nou Camp Nou and Real Madrid fail to win at Valencia today.
Barcelona are brimming with confidence after an unforgettable five days in which they thrashed rivals Real 6-2 in their own backyard before Andres Iniesta's sensational stoppage-time goal put 10-man Barca into the Champions League final.
"Football won over strength and we never let our heads drop," said Brazilian Dani Alves, who will miss the May 27 final against Manchester United through suspension.
"In life you can't waste opportunities and we have to work hard now to win the treble."
With the title looking wrapped up, Barcelona have to beat Athletic Bilbao in the Kings Cup final on May 14 and then Manchester United in Rome on May 27 to capture their triple dose of silverware.
Should they succeed, Barcelona would become the first Spanish team to win the treble and it would be an incredible achievement for coach Josep Guardiola in his debut season.
Villarreal will hope to bring Barcelona crashing back to earth and need all three points as they scramble to get into the Champions League places. As it stands, Villarreal are just a point behind fourth-placed Valencia as are Atletico Madrid.
Champions Real travel to Valencia today, trying to forget last weekend's 6-2 humiliation by Barcelona.
After that game coach Juande Ramos admitted that Real Madrid were no longer among Europe's elite, citing the heavy defeats to Liverpool (5-0 on aggregate in the last 16 of the Champions League) and Barcelona (6-2) as evidence, and widespread changes are expected this summer.
"Madrid are the best team in the world and we have to recover the prestige of fighting with the best sides in the world," said striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Valencia are desperately clinging to fourth with four games left and will hope a wounded Real don't take out their frustration at the Mestalla Stadium.
Atletico are a point behind Valencia but host an Espanyol side that have won five and drawn once in their last six games to surge out of the relegation zone.
Today: Sevilla v Real Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao v Real Betis, Valencia v Real Madrid; Tomorrow: Getafe v Osasuna, Recreativo Huelva v Deportivo La Coruna, Valladolid v Numancia, Malaga v Racing Santander, Almeria v Sporting Gijon, Barcelona v Villarreal, Atletico Madrid v Espanyol. -- AFP
Barcelona have a seven-point cushion at the top and can lift the title if they defeat Villarreal at Nou Camp Nou and Real Madrid fail to win at Valencia today.
Barcelona are brimming with confidence after an unforgettable five days in which they thrashed rivals Real 6-2 in their own backyard before Andres Iniesta's sensational stoppage-time goal put 10-man Barca into the Champions League final.
"Football won over strength and we never let our heads drop," said Brazilian Dani Alves, who will miss the May 27 final against Manchester United through suspension.
"In life you can't waste opportunities and we have to work hard now to win the treble."
With the title looking wrapped up, Barcelona have to beat Athletic Bilbao in the Kings Cup final on May 14 and then Manchester United in Rome on May 27 to capture their triple dose of silverware.
Should they succeed, Barcelona would become the first Spanish team to win the treble and it would be an incredible achievement for coach Josep Guardiola in his debut season.
Villarreal will hope to bring Barcelona crashing back to earth and need all three points as they scramble to get into the Champions League places. As it stands, Villarreal are just a point behind fourth-placed Valencia as are Atletico Madrid.
Champions Real travel to Valencia today, trying to forget last weekend's 6-2 humiliation by Barcelona.
After that game coach Juande Ramos admitted that Real Madrid were no longer among Europe's elite, citing the heavy defeats to Liverpool (5-0 on aggregate in the last 16 of the Champions League) and Barcelona (6-2) as evidence, and widespread changes are expected this summer.
"Madrid are the best team in the world and we have to recover the prestige of fighting with the best sides in the world," said striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Valencia are desperately clinging to fourth with four games left and will hope a wounded Real don't take out their frustration at the Mestalla Stadium.
Atletico are a point behind Valencia but host an Espanyol side that have won five and drawn once in their last six games to surge out of the relegation zone.
Today: Sevilla v Real Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao v Real Betis, Valencia v Real Madrid; Tomorrow: Getafe v Osasuna, Recreativo Huelva v Deportivo La Coruna, Valladolid v Numancia, Malaga v Racing Santander, Almeria v Sporting Gijon, Barcelona v Villarreal, Atletico Madrid v Espanyol. -- AFP
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