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LFP: Real could clinch Spanish title by defeating Bilbao

Real Madrid celebrated as if they were champions last weekend and they can clinch a 31st Spanish title tomorrow if they defeat Athletic Bilbao at home and Barcelona and Villarreal both fail to win.

With five games left Villarreal are ten points behind Real, while Barcelona are eleven points adrift and Real’s celebrations after the Racing win showed the players think they have done enough to retain the title.

Last year Real secured the championship on the final day of the season in a nerve-wracking comeback win at Real Mallorca, so wrapping the title up with a few games to spare would be welcome relief for the players and supporters. It would be a first managerial title for German coach Bernd Schuster in his maiden season after replacing the sacked Fabio Capello in the summer.

“You can’t sound the victory bells just yet, although we’re only a small step away,” goalkeeper Iker Casillas said. “We have everything going for us, but we can’t count our chickens before they hatch. We’ve been on top from the very start and I think we deserve to win the title again.”

With the title looking a big ask, Barcelona have switched their attention to their Champions League semi-final with Manchester United, with the first leg ending 0-0 on Wednesday night.

Today they travel to a resurgent Deportivo La Coruna, trying to claw back second place from Villarreal. Ten draws have undermined Barcelona’s title hopes and there could be some departures in the summer, with Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and coach Frank Rijkaard all tipped to go for different reasons.

Villarreal are targeting a best ever league finish this season as they try to fend off Barca, one point behind, and hold onto second place, starting with an away match at Real Betis tomorrow.

“We are in second place and that’s got to be our objective because it would beat all our previous records. We’ve got just five games to play and the advantage is ours,” Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini said.

The battle for fourth looks set to go down to the wire, with Atletico Madrid clinging onto the final Champions League spot. Atletico are one point ahead of Racing Santander and three in front of Sevilla going into tomorrow’s derby against cup runners-up Getafe.

Atletico’s Mexican manager Javier Aguirre is feeling the heat and Atletico fans voiced their disapproval last weekend.

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez is also struggling for confidence as he desperately tries to step out of Juande Ramos’ giant shadow. Sevilla take on Real Murcia today, while Racing travel to free scoring Real Mallorca 24 hours later.

Ronald Koeman has been under pressure for months at Valencia and the board finally lost patience when they sacked the Dutchman on Tuesday, just five days after he won the Kings Cup.

In 22 league games in charge Koeman collected a meager four wins, six draws and 12 defeats. Caretaker boss Voro takes charge for a crucial six-pointer against Osasuna, who are one point better off than Valencia.

Fourth from bottom Recreativo host bottom team Levante tomorrow and there is an added twist as Levante players are threating to strike because of unpaid wages. If they go through with it they will forfeit the match and be relegated.
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