Title at stake on league's crunch weekend
The Spanish league season reaches its climax on Sunday with the
title race to be decided, the relegation battle still alive and
European spots up for grabs.
Barcelona will win its 20th league title if it beats
Valladolid at the Camp Nou or matches the result of closest rival
Real Madrid, which plays at Malaga. The Catalans have 96 points,
one more than Madrid.
With both teams empty-handed so far this season, the league
title represents the only piece of silverware either can now win.
"We've done so much and we've worked so hard and now we've
just got one more small step to take," said Barcelona forward
Lionel Messi, who has scored 32 league goals this season.
Retaining the league crown would be a relatively poor return
for Barcelona after it won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and
league title last season. However, it has already notched up some
impressive statistics this league season, including a record points
haul and only one loss, to Atletico Madrid.
Standing between Barcelona and the title is Javier Clemente,
the revered veteran coach of Valladolid who was drafted in to save
the club from relegation. His 16th-place team can still go down on
Sunday, giving it plenty to play for.
"We know that it's up to us but it will be hard because
Valladolid also has plenty at stake. We have to take advantage of
playing in front of our fans," Messi said.
Former Spain coach Clemente is known for saving teams in
freefall from the drop, as he did with Athletic Bilbao in 2006 and
Espanyol in 2003.
"Let's see what the devil I can come up with to hurt
Barcelona. It's a fantastic team, they're the best in the world,"
Clemente said. "I have to make sure my team is convinced that we
have more of a chance than we really do."
Malaga, which is in 18th spot, is also fighting to stay up
but Madrid's players insist they are still motivated by the
possibility of Barcelona slipping up.
"All we can do is keep fighting until the end," said striker
Gonzalo Higuain. "Madrid can win the league. Our morale is very
high and we're 100 percent psyched up."
Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said losing the title would not
be a disaster.
"If we finish the season without any trophies, it won't be a
failure although it would be unexpected," he said. "We aspire to
win titles, but this should help us reflect and learn and be
stronger so we can face the coming season."
The other teams playing to stay in the first division are
Tenerife, Racing Santander and Xerez. With four teams level on 36
points, it would be a remarkable achievement if Xerez, on 33
points, manages to escape relegation. For that to happen, it needs
to win and for other results to conspire in its favor.
The team has been rooted to the bottom of the table for
almost the entire season, although three wins and a draw in its
last six games have kept its top-flight hopes alive.
Xerez's Emiliano Armenteros said Sunday's must-win game
against Osasuna was the most important of his career.
"We have to win, because we're playing for so much," he said.
"We have to get the three points, whatever happens, and then wait
for the other results."
With Valencia having already secured third spot, Sevilla and
Mallorca are vying for the final Champions League berth. Sevilla,
on 60 points, visits Almeria. Mallorca, on 59, hosts Espanyol.
Meanwhile, Getafe and Villarreal, level on 55 points, fight
for sixth spot and a place in the Europa League next season. Getafe
visits that competition's newly crowned champion Atletico Madrid
and Villarreal travels to Zaragoza.
On Saturday, it's: Athletic Bilbao vs. Deportivo La Coruna;
Atletico Madrid vs. Getafe; Zaragoza vs. Villarreal; Almeria vs.
Sevilla; and Mallorca vs. Espanyol.
On Sunday, it's: Racing Santander vs. Sporting Gijon;
Barcelona vs. Valladolid; Valencia vs. Tenerife; Osasuna vs. Xerez;
and Malaga vs. Real Madrid.