Midweek games vital after Barca blow 11 points lead in Spain

"I think we need to win our remaining five games if we want to be champions of the BBVA Primera Liga," commented Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique following his side's 2-1 defeat to Valencia on Sunday night, highlighting just how his side's situation has changed dramatically in less than a month.

Four league games ago Barca led Atletico Madrid by 11 points while Real Madrid were 12 behind, however, while the two sides from the capital have won their last four games, Barca have only added a draw away to Villarreal to their credit and that lead has disappeared with both Real and Atletico scenting a title which appeared impossible in late March.

Add to that a Champions League exit against Atletico and Barca's season is in danger of imploding unless they are able to win away to Deportivo la Coruna on Wednesday night.

"We have to be strong and not fall apart in the face of the logical problems we are going to have in La Coruna," said Luis Enrique, who added that "if anyone is capable of winning five consecutive games, then it is Barca."

Indeed, he insisted that Barca had deserved to win on Sunday night. "We were superior in everything other than effectivity...but football is like that," he said.

"We needed to score the first goal and we did, unfortunately it was an own goal," said the Barca boss in reference to the Ivan Rakitic error which swung the game against his side.

The coach worked hard to not criticize his players, but the fact is some such as Luis Suarez and Neymar have gone missing in action since the international break and where the question was 'when will Barca be proclaimed league champions?', now it has become 'can they win the league?'

Both Atletico and Real Madrid appear unstoppable and although they both have difficult matches in midweek, with Atletico traveling to play Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Madrid at home to fourth place Villarreal, momentum is on their side.

Should Barca end this season without the league it would be one of the biggest collapses ever seen in Spain, Wednesday's match in la Coruna will be decisive: one way or another. Endit