Barcelona need just one more point to clinch their third straight Spanish league title after a 2—0 Catalan derby defeat of Espanyol on Sunday.
Spain World Cup heroes Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique scored for Barca, who are eight points ahead of Real Madrid with just three matches left.
On Saturday, Real enjoyed a 6—2 romp away to Sevilla, with league top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo banging in four goals.
Barca will be champions if Real fail to beat Getafe on Tuesday, or by earning at least one point away to Levante on Wednesday.
Before the Catalan derby there was an emotional minute’s silence for golf legend Severiano Ballesteros, a keen Barca fan, who died on Saturday, aged 54.
Iniesta put Barca ahead in the 29th minute by taking advantage of a mistake from Javi Lopez, and then beating Carlos Kameni with a low near—post dive.
David Villa, in poor form, should have extended Barca’s lead on three occasions but missed each time.
Three minutes into the second half Pique made it 2—0 by heading in a Xavi centre from the left, after getting in front of defender Raul Rodriguez.
Barca never allowed Espanyol to come out of their defensive shell, enjoying their usual 75—per—cent possession, and could have scored more goals at the end.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola said: “For the first time, the league title is very close. We depend on ourselves and we must clinch it against Levante. If we had not won today the battle would have gone until the last day, which is what we wanted to avoid.” “We played an excellent first half, but after the first goal we let our attention level go down,” he said. “Overall, we played a good game.” The defeat leaves Espanyol in eighth place, with their dreams of snatching a Europa League berth in tatters.
Sunday’s late game was a defiant 3—1 win for Osasuna away to fellow strugglers Zaragoza.
Angel Lafita gave Zaragoza an early lead, but spirited Osasuna struck back in the second half with goals from Javier Camunas, Sergio Fernandez and Kike Sola.
Almeria, already relegated, are bottom with just 26 points. Then come Hercules on 33, Deportivo Coruna and Zaragoza on 39, Getafe on 40, then Real Sociedad and Osasuna together on 41.
Sunday’s lunchtime match was a colourless 0—0 draw between midtable Mallorca and fourth—placed Villarreal, which leaves the yellows five points behind Valencia in the battle for third place and direct entry to the Champions League.
