Best team' wins La Liga, insists Barcelona coach

Midfield legend Andres Iniesta is set to quit while arch rivals Real Madrid are prepping for a 13th Champions League, yet Ernesto Valverde insists his Barcelona side are still the best team in Spain.

A win at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday would see Barcelona seal their 25th La Liga title, and first since 2016, with four games to spare.

Having wrapped up the first part of a league and Cup double with a 5-0 Copa del Rey final rout of Sevilla last week, Valverde insisted Saturday: "When the league started in August, we were all on the start line and we all know that, at the finish, it's the best team who wins.

"The best team of the lot wins La Liga."

He added: "We've been working hard from day one, and now we have a few opportunities (to win the league) but if possible we want to wrap it up tomorrow (Sunday)."

Iniesta's imminent departure from Barcelona at the end of the campaign has given Valverde a headache about how to rebalance his team once the 33-year-old midfield maestro finally quits the Camp Nou.

And Barca's failure to reach the last four of Europe's premier club competition for the third consecutive season – while Real bid for another final appearance following a 2-1 semifinal, first leg win over Bayern Munich – has led to speculation about Valverde's future.