FCBARCELONA.CAT

25.03.2008 11:41

Nine finals await top three

Roger Bogunyà

Madrid, Barça and Villarreal are tightly matched going into the final straight in the league title race, and for each of them, the next nine games are like cup finals.

The top three clubs have very different sets of fixtures ahead. Not one of the remaining 17 teams still has to face all three.

Madrid v Barcelona

The only head to head encounter between the top three is the Madrid v Barça game on day 36. That is a real six pointer and also gives Villarreal a valuable chance to make up ground on the top two. The game at the Bernabéu comes just three matches from the end of the championship.

Harder games for Madrid and Villarreal

Other than the clásico, Barça is the only side that has no other games against team in the hunt for places in the Champions League, apart from Espanyol (7th in the Liga). Madrid still have to face Sevilla (6th) and Racing (5th). Villarreal have it even harder, as they still have matches to come against Atlético Madrid (4th), Sevilla (6th) and Espanyol (7th).

Madrid and Barça crucial in relegation battle

Barça and Madrid also have a number of games against sides that have to fight a relegation battle, which can often prove hard as those teams are in desperate need of any points they can get. Barça have yet to meet Recreativo and Murcia, while Madrid will play Murcia and Levante. Villarreal have just one opponent to come that is facing the drop, and that’s Recreativo.

Home sweet home

Of the nine games left, Madrid have home advantage in 5 encounters, while Barça and Villarreal have just 4 home games left and 5 away. Rijkaard’s side has most of its more tricky games at the Camp Nou (apart from Madrid), while Madrid have their two theoretically easiest games, with Murcia and Levante, at home. Villarreal, have a more even mix of hard games at home and away.