La Liga title race: Preview of Real Madrid and Barcelona's run-in, with odds, fixtures and more
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Updated 05/05/2017 at 16:44 GMT
With just over two weeks before the Liga season concludes, Michael Hincks looks at how Barcelona and Real Madrid are shaping up in their push for the title.
Barcelona Real Madrid La Liga title race, Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane
Image credit: Eurosport
There’s every chance this Liga race is going down to the final day, meaning a decision could soon be made on where the real league trophy will be ready and waiting come May 21.
Will it hover in a helicopter somewhere above Valencia? Ready to make a beeline for Malaga or Barcelona? Or will we see a replica pop up at either the Nou Camp or La Rosaleda?
But that's more than a fortnight away. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Both clubs are on 81 points, but it remains advantage Real with Los Blancos having a game in hand over their rivals.
Here, we analyse the duo’s run-in, and look at where the title could be won and lost...
Who will win La Liga?
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Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona conducts the ball next to Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF
Image credit: Getty Images
Real Madrid - Remaining Fixtures
Saturday May 6 – Granada (A)
Sunday May 14 – Sevilla (H)
Wednesday May 17 – Celta Vigo (A)
Sunday May 21 – Malaga (A)
It’s in Real’s hands. Four wins from four and they will lift the league trophy for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
To end that five-year drought, Zinedine Zidane’s side must navigate past already-relegated Granada before hosting Sevilla in a week’s time.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side pose the greatest obstacle standing between Real and a 33rd league title. With a Champions League spot unlikely to be secured for Sevilla (Villarreal are currently five points behind the fourth-placed side), there will be plenty to play for at the Bernabeu.
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James Rodriguez of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the La Liga match against Deportivo La Coruna
Image credit: Getty Images
It was indeed Sevilla who shattered Real’s hopes of making it 41 matches unbeaten back in January, winning 2-1 thanks to Stevan Jovetic’s injury-time winner. Could Sevilla achieve a league double over Real and crush their hopes of winning La Liga with one fell swoop?
From then on, Real are on the road in their final two games. The game in hand comes on Wednesday May 17 when travelling to Celta Vigo, while they face Malaga away on the final day.
Both clubs are safely mid-table, but they still remain dangerous. Celta have already beaten Real and Barcelona this season, while they are currently embroiled in a Europa League semi-final tie with Manchester United which is far from over.
Malaga meanwhile, have hit a purple patch, winning five of their last six league matches. These are no gimmes for Real.
Barcelona - Remaining Fixtures
Saturday May 6 – Villarreal (H)
Sunday May 14 – Las Palmas (A)
Sunday May 21 – Eibar (H)
On paper, it looks pretty good for Barca. Their greatest challenge comes this weekend against Villarreal, who are currently fifth and hoping for a Sevilla collapse.
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Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suárez
Image credit: Getty Images
And with Sevilla still to face Real, Villarreal will be fully aware that a shock at the Nou Camp can boost their Champions League hopes no end. But beating Barca at home is no tall order – the club last tasted success at the home of the Catalan Giants in the 2007/08 season, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Marcos Senna and Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Beyond Villarreal, it is a trip to 14th-placed Las Palmas before hosting Eibar on the last day. It would be a huge shock if Barca come out of these two games with anything less than six points, but that’s not to say it isn’t possible.
SO WHERE IS THE TITLE GOING?
Despite dominating once more, Barca and Real haven’t had it all their own way this season. It would be foolish to suggest both sides will win their remaining games, but it would also be difficult to bet against that from happening.
With that in mind, we would have to say Real Madrid, simply because they need 10 points from a possible 12 to guarantee the title.
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2017, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, Getty Images
Image credit: Getty Images
WHAT'S THEIR HEAD TO HEAD?
If both sides are on the same amount of points after all 38 games, it will come down to their head-to-head. And in that case, the title would go to Barcelona - having drawn 1-1 with Real at the Nou Camp before winning 3-2 at the Bernabeu in that Clasico match.
You would have to go back to the 2006-07 season to find the last time the league was decided this way. A 2-0 win for Real at the Bernabeu, followed by a 3-3 draw at the Camp Nou, meant they pipped Barca to the title after both finished on 76 points - a staggeringly low total given that both have hit the 100-point mark in recent years.
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Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the El Clasico football match. Barselona’s fans among Real Madrid’s fans
Image credit: Getty Images
AND WHAT DO THE BOOKMAKERS SAY?
Real Madrid 4/11
Barcelona 2/1
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