Real poised for Spanish title

Madrid, July 15: Zinedine Zidane has warned his players not to believe La Liga is already won as Real Madrid chase the last victory they need against Villarreal on Thursday.

With a four-point cushion ahead of Barcelona and only two games left to play, Madrid will be uncatchable if they win at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, regardless of Barca’s result at home to Osasuna.

It means a third league title in eight years is now firmly within their grasp, following a relentless run of form that has seen Madrid win nine games out of nine since the restart from Coronavirus lockdown.

Madrid could even afford to lose to Villarreal if they beat Leganes on Sunday but Zidane is wary of complacency. “There is a lot of noise about celebrations and holidays and all that but tomorrow we have a game, period,” said Zidane in a press conference on Wednesday.

“We have to focus all our energy on tomorrow, nothing else. There is a lot of talk but all the players, everyone who works at the club, is only thinking about the game. Nobody knows what will happen until it happens,” he added.

While Barca’s ageing squad has struggled with the frequency of matches since the suspension, Madrid appear to have revelled in the intensity of a compressed calendar.

“It was something quite particuar that when we started to work again after lockdown and after three months at home, the

There is a lot of noise about celebrations and holidays and all that but tomorrow we have a game, period. Nobody knows what will happen until it happens. — ZINEDINE ZIDANE Real Madrid manager

players had this desire to do something great,” said Zidane.

“I saw the players and they wanted something more, they were staying after training to do extra. That says everything you need to know about this team,” he said.

Luis Suarez said in an interview with Diario Sport this week that winning La Liga is now “almost impossible” for Barcelona, who play Osasuna, hoping to take the title race to the final day.

“That’s his opinion,” said Barca coach Quique Setien, adding “The truth is La Liga is not yet lost because anything can happen but we know it is difficult. Not so much because of our failings, that we have had three draws, but Madrid’s success.”