Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola must pick up his players from their
Champions League heartbreak for the weekend trip to Villarreal in
La Liga.
Barca won all six trophies available to them last year but
they are in danger of ending 2010 empty-handed unless they can put
Wednesday night's disappointing Champions League semi-final exit to
Inter Milan behind them.
Currently, the reigning champions are a point ahead of Real
Madrid at the top of the Primera Division standings with four games
remaining.
However, Barca look to have the much trickier task this
weekend as, while Madrid look to make it 17 home wins out of 18
when they host mid-table Osasuna, Guardiola's men have to go to
improving Villarreal.
Villarreal, who have lost just twice at home this season,
have won five of their last six matches to climb up to sixth in the
standings.
Barca winger Pedro Rodriguez said following his side's
European exit: "We have to raise our heads, continue forward,
because there is still the league.
"We now have a difficult game in the league and we have to
win all the matches that remain. Tomorrow (Thursday) we will return
to work at 100% because we cannot let the league escape."
If Barca lose at El Madrigal on Saturday, then Madrid will go
two points clear at the summit with a win over Osasuna on Sunday -
and in the process making Barca's better head-to-head record
obsolete if they do not drop any more points.
Madrid defender Raul Albiol is well aware it will not be easy
though, saying: "We know every game left for us will be tough
because there is much at stake for every team.
"We have to win our four remaining games and wait and see. We
don't depend on ourselves to win the title."
Even though there are only four rounds left there is still
little decided in La Liga, although Xerez's fight to avoid the drop
could be coming to an end.
Last weekend's 3-1 loss at Barcelona left them seven points
adrift of safety and if they do not beat Andalusian rivals Almeria
on Saturday then there may be no way back for Nestor Gorosito's
men.
Xerez defender Jesus Mendoza said of this weekend's match:
"We are both playing for a lot, but us a lot more. There's is
nothing else for us but to win the game. Hopefully we will be able
to save ourselves."
The other teams in the relegation zone have much more hope as
Tenerife and Real Valladolid, who have both found some form at the
right time, are only two points away from Real Zaragoza and Malaga
above them.
Tenerife are at home to Racing Santander, Valladolid host
seventh-placed Getafe, while Zaragoza go to Deportivo La Coruna and
Malaga, who are without a win in seven matches, meet Sporting
Gijon.
In the race for the European places, Valencia look set to
limp over the line and claim one of the two remaining Champions
League spots behind Barca and Madrid as they are currently six
points ahead of fourth-placed Real Mallorca.
However, Unai Emery's side have not won away from the
Mestalla since January and they are at Espanyol this weekend.
Behind Valencia there are five teams within six points of
each other and all of whom will still be holding out hope of a
top-four finish - Mallorca, Sevilla, Villarreal, Getafe and
Athletic Bilbao.
Mallorca and Athletic meet at San Mames, while Sevilla are at
home to Atletico Madrid in what will be a dress rehearsal for next
month's Copa del Rey final.
