Leader Barcelona visits Sevilla and Real Madrid hosts Athletic
Bilbao this weekend as the Spanish title race goes down to the wire
with two rounds to play.
With one point separating the top two teams and the battle to
survive at the bottom of the table equally tight, all the weekend's
games will be played on Saturday at the same time.
In its midweek game, Madrid came back from a goal down to
beat Mallorca 4-1 with a hat trick from Cristiano Ronaldo. Madrid
has won its last five games and is desperately hoping for a slip-up
by champion Barca in order to claim the title.
"I want to be league champion," said Ronaldo, who has scored
25 league goals in his first season in Spain. "I don't see myself
as having won the league yet, but I'm excited about it and I hope
it's going to happen."
Eighth-place Bilbao drew 1-1 with Malaga midweek.
Barcelona won 4-1 midweek against Tenerife, a third emphatic
win in a row since a potentially costly 0-0 draw at Espanyol, to
total 93 points.
"I never thought that we would need more than 90 points to
win the league," said Barcelona defender Maxwell. "We have made a
huge effort and now we are nearly there, just two games left -two
finals- and we have to give everything we have."
Defender Gerard Pique is doubtful for Barcelona due to an
injury.
Sevilla's form has become patchy as the demands of competing
in the Champions League, the league and the Copa del Rey have taken
their toll. However, the Andalusian side has plenty to play for as
it seeks to hold on to fourth place and the final Champions League
berth ahead of Mallorca. Midweek, it beat Racing Santander 5-1.
Despite its heavy loss against Madrid, Mallorca has been the
surprise team of the season, vying with Sevilla for the
fourth-place spot. Despite a poor away record, the Balearic side
will be confident of picking up points at Deportivo La Coruna,
which has little at stake in 10th place.
At the bottom of the table, last-place Xerez will be
desperate for a win when it hosts Zaragoza, which moved away from
the relegation zone recently.
Also, it's: Getafe vs. Malaga; Sporting Gijon vs. Atletico
Madrid; Valladolid vs. Racing Santander; Tenerife vs. Almeria;
Villarreal vs. Valencia; and Espanyol vs. Osasuna.
