Barcelona leads Madrid by 11 points with five games remaining. If Barcelona win at Osasuna on Saturday, then Madrid must also win at Espanyol on Sunday to extend the title race for at least one more round.
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If everything goes well for Barcelona this weekend, the next game will host Real Madrid in a classic as the new champion.
While Hansi Flick is on the cusp of a third major title (including the 2025 Copa del Rey) in his two years at the helm of Barcelona, Madrid faces a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
Key matches
Barcelona escapes with the national title. They have won nine straight in La Liga, a streak of domestic victories marred only by a loss to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals.
However, Barcelona cannot expect an easy victory in Pamplona.
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Osasuna, ranked ninth, has only lost twice at its El Sadar stadium this season and is on a streak of 10 consecutive home games without losing.
Madrid, meanwhile, have won just once in their last six games in all competitions, as they approach the end of a disappointing season that saw Xabi Alonso sacked and, barring a drastic change of events, Álvaro Arbeloa also set to be sent off in the off-season.
Espanyol is in even greater stagnation than Madrid.
Espanyol were in fifth place at the start of 2026, but are yet to win this year (a staggering run of 16 games) and have fallen into the large group of teams trying to avoid relegation.
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Atletico Madrid play in Valencia on Saturday before Diego Simeone’s side visit Arsenal next week with their Champions League semi-final set to take place after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
Players to watch
Barcelona midfielder Fermín López, 22, who is expected to play for Spain in this summer’s World Cup, is finishing the campaign as one of their most incisive attacking players. His goal in the 2-0 win at Getafe last Saturday was Fermín’s 13th this season, along with 16 assists.
While Madrid struggles, Vinícius Júnior maintains his good form with two goals in his last two league games.
out of action
Lamine Yamal will be out of Barcelona this season due to a muscle injury. Raphinha’s return from injury is unknown after he returned to training with the team this week. Both Barcelona stars are expected to be fit for the World Cup.
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Madrid will be missing regular starters Kylian Mbappé, Éder Militão and Arda Güler at Espanyol. Mbappé has a problem with his left hamstring and the French forward will rest with the World Cup starting in June.
Militão has been ruled out of the World Cup in Brazil after he underwent surgery to repair a hamstring injury this week.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer