League next as Barca on brink of double

With the King’s Cup in the bag, Barcelona look to complete the double this weekend, needing just a point at Real Mallorca on Sunday to secure their 19th league title.

Barcelona destroyed Athletic Bilbao 4-1 to win the King’s Cup on Wednesday and have the chance to make it two titles in five days with a draw at Mallorca and could even be crowned champions without playing should Real Madrid fail to defeat Villarreal on Saturday.

“If we become champions because Madrid slip-up, so much the better,” said captain Carles Puyol.

“If they don?t, we?ll go to Mallorca to win the game as we have done all season.”

Pep Guardiola?s side are eight points clear of Real with three games left so a point would be enough as they have a superior head-to-head record.

Barcelona looked set to win the championship in front of their own fans at Camp Nou last weekend but conceded two late goals in a 3-3 draw with Villarreal.

They now need a point to get the job done as they go for an historic treble, with the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27 the final installment.

Real, beaten 3-0 by Valencia last time out, seem to be playing for pride alone, although some of their players are playing for their futures with a summer of change expected.

On Saturday the reigning champions travel to Villarreal, three points off fourth spot, who must win to maintain their Champions League push.

Real are poised to splash the cash to re-build their team and goalkeeper Iker Casillas has urged the club to raid Valencia for the Spanish trio of Juan Mata, David Villa and David Silva.

“I am not xenophobic but I simply think that players such as Villa, Mata and Silva would fit perfectly at a club like Real,” said Casillas.

Valencia are desperate to hang onto their star trio but will probably need the Champions League windfall to keep them and have a make-or-break match on Sunday at rivals Atletico Madrid.

As it stands Valencia hold the desired fourth position but are just a point ahead of Atletico and go into the Vicente Calderon clash without Silva, who is out for at least a fortnight with a foot injury.

“If Villarreal don?t win (against Real Madrid) a draw at the Calderon would maintain the gap with one game less but that is not to say I would take a draw,” explained midfielder Ruben Baraja.

Like Valencia, Atletico also need the financial benefits of Champions League football to hang onto their striking duo of Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero and Diego Forlan next season.

“We know what is at stake and we can?t fail,” said Atletico captain Maxi Rodriguez.

Uruguayan forward Forlan has scored seven goals in his last five games to take his season?s tally to 27 and he is just one goal behind Barcelona?s Samuel Eto?o in the Pichichi race to become the league?s top-scorer.

Third-placed Sevilla are closing in on the Champions League and if they can beat Osasuna on Sunday and Valencia lose at Atletico they will qualify for Europe?s flagship competition.

Osasuna are one of several teams fighting to stay in the division as the relegation battle goes down to the wire.

“It will be a difficult game with their passionate fans and we understand they will fight to the death given the situation they are in,” explained Sevilla midfielder Aldo Duscher.

“However, we are prepared to do the same to reach our goal (the Champions League).”

Osasuna are in the final safety spot, two points above the bottom three of Sporting Gijon, Recreativo Huelva and Numancia.

Basement boys Numancia host Recre, one point above them, on Sunday in a crucial six-pointer in Soria.

“Although some people don’t believe in us, we have faith in ourselves and we can survive if we all can pull together,” said Numancia’s Cesar Palacios.

Fixtures

Saturday (1800GMT unless otherwise stated)

Osasuna v Sevilla, Deportivo La Coruna v Getafe, Villarreal v Real Madrid (2000GMT)

Sunday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated)

Real Betis v Almeria, Espanyol v Athletic Bilbao, Racing Santander v Valladolid, Sporting Gijon v Malaga, Numancia v Recreativo Huelva, Real Mallorca v Barcelona (1700GMT), Atletico Madrid v Valencia (1900GMT)