Real Madrid eye Atletico in Spanish League clash

It looked like a question of when, rather than if, Barcelona were going to win this season?s Spanish league championship but they have lost their way of late with one point from the last nine.

There is now a genuine title race with Real Madrid.

Barcelona held a substantial 12-point gap over Real back on February 15 but that lead has shrunk to just four points in the space of three games with Barcelona drawing against Real Betis before defeats to Espanyol and Atletico Madrid.

Real have rattled out ten straight wins to play their part and hope to continue their pursuit of Barcelona on Saturday with a derby win over Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We are four points behind the leaders now and people seem to think our work is over, but this has only just begun,” said Real coach Juande Ramos. “Those people who think we’ll easily catch up with Barcelona are wrong. This is going to be very long.”

Barcelona?s dip in form has been attributed to playing too many games as they fight on three fronts and they were in action in midweek reaching the Spanish Cup final with a 3-1 aggregate win over Real Mallorca.

Barcelona will face Athletic Bilbao in the final and ironically the two finalists meet at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Atletico came from 2-0 down to beat Barca 4-3 last weekend and hope to follow that up with victory over Real to enhance their Champions League hopes with fourth-placed Villarreal three points ahead.

Atletico have not beaten neighbours Real since 1999 and new coach Abel Resino will hope he is the man to break that jinx.

“This time we are going to do Barcelona a favour,” said Atletico captain Maxi Rodriguez.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas has watched his side close the gap on Barca but said he would rather be in their shoes at the top of the table.

“It was to be expected that Barca wouldn?t win a few matches and something like that could happen to us too,” explained Casillas. “I would swap places with them as they are still in three competitions and four points ahead in the league.”

Real have a tough week with Atletico and then Tuesday?s Champions League match at Liverpool trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is under the microscope after his team?s loss of form but remains convinced Barcelona will be crowned champions come May.

“I sense we?ll be champions,” said Guardiola. “I always say what I feel and right now I feel like we will start winning again and gain more of an advantage. We just need to get back the shape and aggression we were showing at the start of the season.”

Bilbao thrashed Sevilla 3-0 to reach the Spanish Cup final after a 24-year wait so will go to Barcelona on a high.

Sevilla entertain Almeria on Sunday aiming to bounce back from their cup setback and continue their strong league form that has left them third.

Last season?s cup winners Valencia are in freefall and need to get back on the winning trail after collecting just six points from their last eight games.

Valencia, three points off the Champions League spots, travel to bottom side Numancia on Sunday.

Winger Joaquin insists there is no reason to press the panic button and emphasised that the players were still focused on the job in hand despite the club not paying their wages on time due to financial problems.

“Our objective is to be in the top four and we are not far off,” explained Joaquin. “We are calm (about the economic situation) and when they can (pay us) they will do.”

Valencia?s financial problems have led to speculation that Spanish internationals David Villa and David Silva could be auctioned off to the highest bidder in the summer.

Fixtures

Saturday

Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid, Villarreal v Espanyol

Sunday

Deportivo La Coruna v Racing Santander, Sevilla v Almeria, Getafe v Malaga, Real Mallorca v Real Betis, Osasuna v Sporting Gijon, Numancia v Valencia, Recreativo Huelva v Valladolid