Barcelona on brink of coronation
BARCELONA could be crowned La Liga champions this week if they can beat Alaves and Atletico Madrid lose to Valencia.
Ernesto Valverde was being typically conservative on Saturday after Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-1.
“We needed nine points to be champions,” he said. “But it is not easy to win games. I understand the people who say we are already there, but we are not.
“We have to win the next game and keep winning until the end of the season. This is not over.”
It will be all over tomorrow if Barcelona beat Alaves and Valencia beat Atletico 24 hours later.
And regardless of what Atletico do tomorrow, Barca can confirm the title this weekend against Levante at home with another win.
If the title race in Spain looks all but done, the race to make the Champions League places is still wide open.
There are three teams contesting fourth place behind Atletico and Real Madrid who now look likely to finish second and third.
Getafe are currently in fourth after thrashing Sevilla 3-0 on Sunday. They face Real at home on Thursday.
Getafe forward Jorge Molina, who scored two goals on Sunday, said: “We will not talk about the Champions League until the last game of the season. We just have to keep working. That has been the key to our success.”
If Getafe slip up against Real then Valencia will be best placed to take advantage after they moved into fifth, above sixth-placed Sevilla, with a 2-1 win over Real Betis at the weekend.
Valencia play Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano tomorrow in a game that could hand the title to Barcelona. Valencia have Goncalo Guedes in great form. He has scored eight goals in his last 10 games.
“He is playing really well,” said Valencia coach Marcelino of the Portuguese forward.
But he did add a note of caution as Valencia supporters start to dream of finishing in the top four and winning both the Europa League and the Copa del Rey.
Valencia face Arsenal in the Europa League semi-finals and Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, but Marcelino said: “We can dream. I just hope the season does not end up being too long for us.”