Off the wire
• Ling Jihua officially charged, to face trial in Tianjin  • Asia driving record New Zealand onion exports  • China's new yuan loans fall in April  • Aussie leaders to go head to head in first election debate  • Companies register plan signals clampdown on New Zealand "tax haven" reputation  • Former Taiwan affairs official under graft investigation  • World's biggest plane set to draw 50,000 onlookers in Australia  • Roundup: 50,000 Myanmar migrant workers quit Thai fishing jobs for home  • Hezbollah prominent commander killed in Syria blast  • Shanghai GM recalling 44,096 vehicles in China  
You are here: 　 Home

Spanish title winner known by 7pm as Barca and Madrid duel it out

Xinhua, May 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

The winner of the BBVA Primera Liga title will be known by 18.50pm local time on Saturday when the final whistle blows on the two games which will decide whether FC Barcelona will retain their crown or if Real Madrid will pull off one of the most surprising comebacks in recent years.

Barcelona will be champions if they win away to a Granada side which has nothing to play for other than pride, but should they fail to win in the Los Carmines Stadium a win for Real Madrid in La Coruna would see Madrid finish the season on the top of the table.

Barca appear to have put their disastrous run of just a draw and three defeats at the start of April behind them and Luis Enrique's men have won their last four matches, scoring 21 goals while conceding none.

They have benefitted from not having to play in Europe and being able to rest tired legs over the past three weeks has seen players such as Neymar, Luis Suarez and Leo Messi recover the form which seemed to have deserted them.

Speaking to the press on Thursday, Suarez said he and his companions had to remember that the title was firmly in their hands.

Luis Enrique will field his strongest available side on Saturday with Ter Stegen in goal for the injured Claudio Bravo, while up front the 'trident' will hope to bring the title back to the Camp Nou.

The only result which would give Real Madrid a chance of winning the league is a win away to Deportivo la Coruna, but given that Zinedine Zidane's side have won their last 11 league games, that shouldn't be a problem.

Deportivo also have nothing at stake and the club appears to have internal problems following a poor second half to the season, which this week saw midfielder, Pedro Mosquera openly criticize some of his teammates.

Apart from the injured Lucas Vazquez, Zidane has a full squad available after Gareth Bale recovered from his slight muscle problem and he too will field his strongest side.

An early goal for Madrid would put the pressure on Barca in Granada, while an early goal for Barca would mean Madrid's efforts were in vain. All in all it promises to be an afternoon for cool nerves both for players and supporters with either glory or disappointment at the end of it. Endit