Rampant Real on cusp of ending title drought

BARCELONA: Real Madrid can almost touch the La Liga title after a five-year wait, needing only to avoid defeat to Malaga on Sunday to grab the trophy from Barcelona.

Real lead the standings on 90 points, three above Barcelona. Standing in the way of a first title since 2012 is a Malaga side with little at stake and who are coached by Michel, who spent 14 trophy laden seasons at the Bernabeu.

Madrid squandered two consecutive titles in 1992 and 1993 away to Tenerife, then coached by another Real great, Jorge Valdano, handing the trophy to Barcelona on the final day.

Michel stirred controversy last month when he declared: “I’m a much bigger Madrid fan than Valdano.”

However, Michel, who oversaw a surprise 2-0 win over Barca in April, has promised to treat the game like any other: “It’s my Madrid but also my Malaga. I have to respect the competition and always go out to win.”

Barcelona host Eibar and coach Luis Enrique last month said his side’s hopes of stealing the league in the final match were as likely as pigs flying. In his last media appearance, though, he said Malaga had beaten Barca and could spring a surprise on Madrid too.

Real opened up a three-point lead at the top with a 4-1 win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday, returning to the league’s summit for the first time since April 23 when they lost to Barca.

They have been in rampant form since that defeat, hitting 20 goals in five games, demonstrating the attacking power coach Zinedine Zidane has at his disposal. – Reuters