Do or die for Real in Barca title decider

The stakes could not be higher as double champions Real Madrid host leaders Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in a duel that could determine the fate of this season?s Spanish championship.

Barcelona hold a four-point cushion over Real going into ?El Clasico? so victory would virtually secure the title with just four games left, however, if Real win they would be just a point behind cranking up the pressure on Pep Guardiola?s side.

“For Real it is their last chance but we have no need to worry because whatever happens we will still be on top,” said Barca striker Samuel Eto?o.

“All the pressure is on them.”

For Barcelona it is the second tough game inside five days having faced Chelsea on Tuesday in the Champions League semi-final first leg which finished 0-0.

A similar result would probably suit Guardiola fine but Real, who are well rested after no European commitments, will hope their rivals have heavy legs.

“Real may be the favourites with home advantage but Barca are the league leaders and not so long ago people were talking about them coming here to win the title,” said Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

“We want the fans to get excited but we are not a point behind Barcelona yet and we also have a more difficult run-in than them.”

It will be a contrast of different football style as the flair and panache of Barcelona come up against the robot-like efficiency of Real.

Real have gone 18 league games unbeaten – with 17 wins and one draw – to get back in the title race and their last loss came in mid-December with a 2-0 reverse against Barcelona at Camp Nou.

Barca had a 12-point gap over Real back then but now that is down to four points as they struggle to get across the finish line.

If both sides finish level on points the head-to-head record decides the league – as it did for Real in 2007 when Barca and Real had equal points – so Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Real gives them a slight edge.

Guardiola’s side have to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final and Lionel Messi believes a win over Real could aid their European aspirations.

“If we win, we’ll be able to go to Chelsea (next week) feeling more relaxed,” said Messi. “We are a very close team and are all very motivated to win a title for Barca after two years without one.”

Last season Barcelona had to do the guard of honour at the Bernabeu to salute Real as champions and then lost 4-1. Real will hope for a repeat performance and captain Raul goes into the game full of confidence after scoring a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Sevilla last weekend.

Coach Juande Ramos has to do without the suspended Pepe while Guti is out after picking up an ankle injury in training. Dutch winger Arjen Robben is back in training but it is unsure whether he will be risked for the Barcelona game.

Barcelona have lost defender Rafael Marquez who sustained a knee injury against Chelsea and will be out for the rest of the season but otherwise have a clean bill of health.

While the spotlight is on Real-Barca there is another crucial match on Saturday as Sevilla travel to Villarreal.

Sevilla have lost their last four matches and are clinging to third place with Valencia now just one point behind.

On Sunday Valencia travel to in-form Espanyol who have collected 13 points from 15 to move out of the relegation zone.

Villarreal are two points back from Sevilla in fifth making the match at El Madrigal a must-win game for both sides.

“We don?t like it when Manolo Jimenez (the Sevilla coach) or the players are getting criticised but at this stage we just have to focus on winning,” said Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop.

Elsewhere Getafe sacked coach Victor Munoz on Monday and former Real Madrid midfielder Michel has five games to save the troubled club, one point above the relegation places, from the drop starting with Sunday?s trip to Real Mallorca.

Fixtures

Saturday

Real Madrid v Barcelona 1800 GMT, Numancia v Malaga 1800 GMT, Villarreal v Sevilla 2000 GMT

Sunday – all 1500 GMT unless stated

Real Mallorca v Getafe, Osasuna v Recreativo Huelva, Deportivo La Coruna v Valladolid, Racing Santander v Almería, Sporting Gijon v Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol v Valencia 1700 GMT

Real Betis v Atletico de Madrid 1900 GMT