adminMADRID. — Reigning Spanish La Liga soccer champions Barcelona will need to recover quickly to maintain hopes of retaining their title as they travel to Granada today just three days after being dumped out the Champions League by Atletico Madrid. The Catalans also trail Atletico by a point at the top of the table with just six games remaining, but continue to have matters in their own hands as they meet Los Rojiblancos for the sixth time this season on the final day of the campaign.
Barca could even still win a domestic double as they also face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday.
Midfielder Andres Iniesta was surprisingly withdrawn with half an hour still to play as Barca trailed 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon in midweek, but he insists they have no time to feel sorry for themselves. “The substitution surprised me, but the coach is the one who makes the decisions,” he said.
“The defeat shouldn’t affect us. The Champions League is a wonderful competition, but you cannot win it every year.”
Fixtures
Today: Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad (4pm), Villarreal v Levante (6pm), Granada v Barcelona (8pm), Real Madrid v Almeria (10pm)
Tomorrow: Real Betis v Sevilla (12noon), Valencia v Elche (5pm), Getafe v Atletico Madrid (7pm), Espanyol v Rayo Vallecano (9pm)
Monday: Athletic Bilbao v Malaga (10pm). — AFP.
Online Reporter