Barcelona manager Luis Enrique believes his team deserve to win “the best league in Europe” as they aim to clinch La Liga in a potentially thrilling climax to the Spanish season on Saturday.
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La Liga leaders Barca will retain the title if they beat Espanyol in the penultimate game of the season and Atletico Madrid lose at bottom-placed Levante and Real Madrid fail to beat Valencia. Atletico had been bidding for its second league title in three seasons.
After a 1-0 win over Sevilla last weekend to move to the brink of mathematically sealing their survival in the top flight, Espanyol fans chanted “we want another Tamudazo” whilst the players celebrated.
Real Madrid travels to Deportivo la Coruna on the final day of the season.
“We had good rhythm from the start, creating pressure following turnovers”, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. Neymar, Messi, and Suarez are some of the most talented players in the game and they keep encouraging each other to get better. “Now we just have to put it away by beating Granada”.
PSV Eindhoven kept the Dutch crown by a single point after a dramatic final day which saw them win 3-1 at Zwolle as rivals Ajax were held to a shock 1-1 draw at relegation battlers De Graafschap. Barcelona, on 88 points, lead Real by a point, while Atleti sit third on 85.
“The prize is there and it is attractive enough that we will all be very motivated”.
In contrast to Atletico and Real, Barca also have the advantage of having had a free midweek to prepare, whilst the sides from the capital were busy booking their places in the Champions League final.
The Catalan club recently relinquished a nine-point lead after going winless in four straight games, but Luis Enrique’s team picked up the pace just in time, winning four consecutive games by outscoring opponents 21-0 to stay ahead going into the decisive round.
Barca’s post-Clasico wobble is now well and truly behind them and they were on their way after eight minutes when Messi – who had won the free-kick himself – curled a magnificent effort into the top corner.
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Barca made a sloppy start to the second half but any nerves were settled when Dani Alves pounced on a slack pass, fed Messi and he in turn slipped in Suarez, who was clinical.
