LA LIGA FINAL LAP ......... Barcelona or Real Madrid

Once again it comes down to Barcelona and arch-nemesis Real Madrid, as two of the most storied teams in club football fight it out to determine who will wear the La Liga crown by the end of Saturday.

Both Barcelona and Real face opponents they should each comfortably beat at 5pm local time, with destiny in the hands of one-point leaders Barca.


The Catalan side needs a win against Granada to secure its 24th La Liga title. But a draw, combined with a win by Real against Deportivo la Coruna, would hand the Madrid team a record 33rd domestic crown.

The latter scenario is unlikely, however, as Granada have lost nearly half of their matches this season, and are on a -20 goal difference -- a stark contrast to Barca's +80. (Real Madrid are on a goal difference of +74.)

This will be the tenth time that Barca have glided into the final day of the season with destiny in its hands -- and it's sealed the deal in all nine of its previous attempts. A win would also ensure Barca's sixth title in its last 10 seasons.

Real have been on a hot streak themselves, winning 11 league matches in a row under manager Zinedine Zidane, who was appointed mid-season. The streak includes a 2-1 win at Barca on April 2 and a 7-1 home win against Celtavigo on March 5.
They have also qualified for the Champions League final, to be played at the end of the month against city rivals Atletico.