With the King’s Cup in the bag, Barcelona look to complete the double this weekend, needing just a point at Real Mallorca on Sunday to secure their 19th league title.

Barcelona destroyed Athletic Bilbao 4-1 to win the King’s Cup on Wednesday and have the chance to make it two titles in five days with a draw at Mallorca and could even be crowned champions without playing should Real Madrid fail to defeat Villarreal on Saturday.

“If we become champions because Madrid slip-up, so much the better,” said captain Carles Puyol.

“If they don?t, we?ll go to Mallorca to win the game as we have done all season.”

Pep Guardiola?s side are eight points clear of Real with three games left so a point would be enough as they have a superior head-to-head record.

Barcelona looked set to win the championship in front of their own fans at Camp Nou last weekend but conceded two late goals in a 3-3 draw with Villarreal.

They now need a point to get the job done as they go for an historic treble, with the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27 the final installment.

Real, beaten 3-0 by Valencia last time out, seem to be playing for pride alone, although some of their players are playing for their futures with a summer of change expected.

On Saturday the reigning champions travel to Villarreal, three points off fourth spot, who must win to maintain their Champions League push.

Real are poised to splash the cash to re-build their team and goalkeeper Iker Casillas has urged the club to raid Valencia for the Spanish trio of Juan Mata, David Villa and David Silva.

“I am not xenophobic but I simply think that players such as Villa, Mata and Silva would fit perfectly at a club like Real,” said Casillas.

Valencia are desperate to hang onto their star trio but will probably need the Champions League windfall to keep them and have a make-or-break match on Sunday at rivals Atletico Madrid.

League Next as Barca on Brink of Double … read more »

Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who helped bring a host of world stars to the club including David Beckham, Thursday announced he hopes to return to the post in elections next month.

The hugely successful businessman said he made the decision as a result of the “serious events” at the reigning Spanish champions in recent months.

Former president Ramon Calderon resigned on January 16 over allegations he rigged voting at the club’s last general assembly in December, which approved its financial accounts.

A judge last week placed Calderon and 13 others, including caretaker president Vicente Boluda, under judicial investigation, the first step to formal charges, for suspected corruption and fraud.

“We have experienced three years of convulsion and improper behaviour at the greatest sports institution in the world,” Perez told a news conference.

“This club has always been characterised by fairness and generosity. It is a sad period that we must overcome.”

Perez promised a “a spectacular sports plan” for the club.

“We have to compete with Chelsea, with Manchester United, with Barcelona, we want to lead European football again,” he said.

Perez led Real from 2000 to 2006, when it earned the nickname “Los Galacticos”, winning the Primera Liga twice and European Champions League with such stars as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Beckham.

The newspaper El Pais said Tuesday that 2008 World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United have both signed agreements with Real regarding the Portuguese winger’s transfer to the Spanish side at the end of this season.

It said Perez has already discussed the payment of 80 million euros (109 million dollars) with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes.

Real´s ´Galactico´ President in Comeback Bid … read more »

Barcelona stayed on course for an historic treble by crushing Athletic Bilbao 4-1 at the Mestalla Stadium on Wednesday to lift the Kings Cup for the first time in over a decade.

Gaizka Toquero headed Bilbao into a ninth-minute lead, but Yaya Toure equalised with a great solo goal and then Barca blitzed their rivals with three goals from Lionel Messi, Bojan Krkic and Xavi in 12 minutes to lift the cup for the first time since 1998.

It was coach Pep Guardiola’s first trophy as a manager and Barcelona’s first piece of silverware in two seasons although the Spanish league title could soon follow with only a point needed at Real Mallorca on Sunday to secure a 19th championship.

“We hope it’s an historic week and we will go for the second title this weekend,” said defender Gerard Pique.

“We just want to enjoy this win first and then concentrate on trying to win more titles.”

The final part of the treble – which no Spanish team has ever achieved – is the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27.

For Bilbao, who have won the cup 23 times, it was bitter disappointment in their first final since 1985.

Barcelona were without Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry through injury so the talented Bojan, 18, started the final.

Four-Star Barca Crush Bilbao to Lift Kings Cup … read more »

Real Madrid have decimated Barcelona’s 12-point lead at the top of the Primera Division standings after reeling off ten successive league wins. “We have reduced the gap to just four points and it would seem as though our job is done, but in fact, it has only begun,” he said in an interview with AS.

“Anyone who thinks we have successfully hunted down Barcelona is gravely mistaken. Of course, I am thrilled that we have cut down their lead, but we are not done harassing them.

“There’s still a long way to go with a lot of games to be played. There’s every chance that we can stumble ourselves one day and they will recover their advantage

Sergio Aguero’s late goal helped Atletico Madrid come from behind to beat Barcelona 4-3 on Sunday and blow the Spanish title race wide open.

Barcelona, who led 2-0 and 3-2, have now failed to win in four matches and have seen their lead over Real Madrid cut from 12 points, just three weeks ago, to four.

Thierry Henry put Barcelona ahead with a fine strike from 25 yards which flew into the top corner after 18 minutes before Lionel Messi, on the half-hour mark, produced a trademark dribble before finishing in style.

Diego Forlan brought Atletico back into the match with a spectacular 30-yard drive before Aguero got the first of his brace after 56 minutes.

Barcelona, who were stunned by struggling Espanyol last weekend, re-established their lead when Eidur Gudjohnsen unselfishly played in Henry for his second from close range in the 73rd minute.

But Atletico were not finished and Forlan again scored, this time from the penalty spot in the 80th minute, before Aguero struck in the 89th minute to win the match.

Barcelona Lose Seven-goal Thriller as Title Race Blown Wide Open … read more »