Barcelona have league title in their sights
Barcelona could move within touching distance of a second successive Primera Liga title if they can beat struggling Racing Santander away on Sunday.
Barcelona could move within touching distance of a second successive Primera Liga title if they can beat struggling Racing Santander away on Sunday.
Frank Rijkaard's side, who hold an 11-point lead at the top of the table with seven games left, overcame Benfica 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday to set up a semi-final against AC Milan in two weeks.
That win ended a sequence of three draws in all competitions but did not stop Barca's leading scorer Samuel Eto'o making a bold prediction that his side would have the league title settled by the time they play Milan.
"We have to change our mindset again quickly," Eto'o told reporters after the Benfica game.
"The Champions League is like a prize which is to be enjoyed but now we have to go back to work again in the league."2
"Next up are Racing and we have to show them the maximum amount of respect. If we can beat them, however, the league will be wrapped up."
Injuries still hamper Barcelona with Rafael Marquez, Thiago Motta, Xavi and Lionel Messi all recovering, though Edmilson did return to action on Wednesday.
Racing, who are only two points clear of the relegation places in 14th, have only won one of their eight previous outings, and share the worst home record in the league with Malaga and Cadiz.
Real Madrid are almost resigned to fighting for second place after managing only a 1-1 draw in the Nou Camp last weekend.
On Saturday they entertain relegation-threatened Real Sociedad, who are 18th, but will be without suspended fullback Roberto Carlos and possibly England captain David Beckham who is suffering with a rib injury.
Sociedad beat Malaga 3-0 last weekend to fire their survival hopes, prompting Real coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro to offer words of warning to his side.
"They are in a tough situation but they played a great game against another difficult side last week," he told the Real Madrid website.
"We have slipped up in similar games and must go out focused to get a positive result."
Two points behind Real in third place are Valencia, who face a tough away fixture at sixth-placed Celta Vigo, while a point further back in fourth are Osasuna, who are away to another relegation candidate Alaves.
Eighth-placed Villarreal's best chance of qualifying for the Champions League next year now lies in winning the tournament after they made the semi-finals at the expense of Inter Milan during the week.
Villarreal, who play seventh-placed Deportivo Coruna at home on Sunday, are seven points adrift of the top four, but by winning the Champions League at the first attempt would deprive the fourth-placed finisher in the league of a shot at next year's competition.