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| Leo Messi in-form |
Barcelona can reclaim La
Liga at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday, exactly a year to the day that Atletico
Madrid won the title at Camp Nou.
Diego Simeone's Atletico
were confirmed as champions for the first time in 18 years on La Liga's final
day on May 17 last year following a 1-1 draw at Barcelona, as Diego
Godin's header cancelled out Alexis Sanchez's opener.
Having seen prized
assets such as Diego Costa and Filipe Luis depart to win the Premier
League with Chelsea, Atletico have rarely looked like defending the title.
The hosts sit 13 points
adrift of leaders Barca going into the penultimate game of the campaign, with
their only remaining goal to secure third place and a UEFA Champions League
group-stage spot ahead of Valencia.
Victory on Sunday would
ensure that objective is completed, but all the focus will be on Luis Enrique's
Barca as they attempt to seal the first trophy of a potential treble.
Barca, who have the Copa
del Rey and Champions League finals to come, are four points ahead
of Real Madrid and will win the league for the 23rd time with a win
in the Spanish capital or by at least matching Real's result at Espanyol.
"To have the chance
to win the treble at this point in the season doesn't happen often,"
said Barca defender Gerard Pique.
"We are fighting
for the treble, but taking into account what is being said, I get the feeling
that we have already won the treble.
"There is not much
to go, but it is the most difficult part, we have to be united.
"What I want is to
win the league as quickly as possible. Let's hope that it is at the
Calderon. If we get to that point, it means that we have done everything
very well indeed. I think people are behind us and are hungry for
trophies."
The visitors may have to
clinch the title without striker Luis Suarez, who is nursing a hamstring
injury. Midfielder Tiago is Atletico's only absentee due to suspension.
Atletico striker
Fernando Torres, meanwhile, is not focused on the prospect of Barca
winning the title at the Calderon.
Torres
said: "We hope to win the match and secure that third place. But
football is like that.
"Atletico became
champion last year at the Camp Nou, and as football and fate would have it,
Barcelona have the possibility of becoming champion on our field.
"But that does not
tell us anything because we are fighting a different war, to win to be third
and achieve the objective we need."
Source:operamini sport
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