Barcelona in need of a favour
La Liga title battle will intensify if Atletico beat Real Madrid but Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Napoli are still in command
By Mark Gleeson
Relatively easy wins last Sunday for the top two in the Spanish league table were expected, but this is the week in which the La Liga title tussle could become a lot tighter. Real Madrid still have a two-point advantage over Barcelona and a game in hand with nine rounds to be played. In midweek, Barca have fourth-placed Sevilla at home while Real go to struggling Leganes, but it is at the weekend when things might change.
Real’s derby with Atletico offers hope for the chasing teams that the leaders will be pegged back, even if the game is being played at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Last February, Atletico won 1-0 there in the league, although this season they were hammered 3-0 at home by Real in November.
Chelsea’s setback last Saturday at the hands of Crystal Palace has reduced their advantage to seven points and they can be expected to be severely tested again when they host Manchester City on Wednesday.
City trail Chelsea, who the bookmakers still have at 1-10, by 11 points with nine games remaining. Instead Tottenham provide what many consider to be the sole remaining threat to the longtime leaders.
Spurs, already on a five-match winning streak, will be looking for more success at Swansea on Wednesday and then Watford at home on Saturday.
Manchester United’s last chance of making the top four and a spot in the Champions League next season must rest on their ability to string a few successive victories together and Everton at home followed by Sunderland away does certainly offer them that chance.
There are eight more rounds left in Serie A, in which Juventus were held last weekend but still lead by six points from Roma with Napoli 10 behind in third.
Napoli are likely more concerned about the team directly below them - Lazio who are looking to knock Napoli out of a Champions League berth. Lazio are four points behind, but can cut that to just one point when they host Napoli on Sunday night.
Germany also have league matches midweek and at the weekend, but Bayern Munich’s dominance is not under threat. Bayern have a 13-point advantage and are moving closer to a fifth successive title.
The interest now in the Bundesliga is about who joins them in the Champions League next season.