Barca vs Real Madrid highlight of La Liga final stage

IANS  |  Madrid 

The 'Clasico' between and Real at the Stadium stands out above all of the others in Spain's Santander, as the Spanish football season goes into its final three matches.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, travel to following their slightly fortunate qualification for a third consecutive final following a 2-2 draw at home to Munich on Tuesday night.

and Cup double and the chance Real have of lifting a third consecutive has started a debate in as to which club has had the best season: in many ways it is sterile debate given that Barca have a 15 point lead over Real in the table and have dominated domestically, but a Madrid win on Sunday afternoon would see them claim they are the best side in while ending Barca's dreams of going unbeaten for an entire league campaign.

In the first meeting between the two sides, Barca produced a masterclass to win 3-0 in the Santiago Bernabeu to virtually knock Madrid out of the title race and have had longer to prepare for the match than their rivals.

Barca also have no worries, while Real Madrid are without and have a doubt over Isco, who missed out on Tuesday with a Nacho Fernandez should be able to cover at right back after a brief return to action against

Last weekend's win in La Coruna not only secured Barca the title, it also confirmed will join and in being relegated to the second division for next season.

Deportivo will try to regain some pride in the Galicia derby against local rivals Celta Vigo, who have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe, while entertain Alaves and are at home to Getafe.

Getafe are currently seventh in the table and have a good chance of claiming the final spot, but travel to with 5 players suspended: Suarez, Fajr, Molinero, Mora and Bruno, while to Arambarri, Bergara and Flamini will add to Pepe Bordalas' selection headache.

sacked Vicenzo Montella last Saturday and replaced him with Joaquin Caparros, who returns to the club after 13 years away. have dropped to eighth in the table and take on Real Sociedad, who are now 10th, but just 3 points behind a place in themselves in another game which could decide who plays in next season.

Sixth place Villarreal have a five-point cushion over Getafe, and a win over would probably confirm a return to the Europa League, but they have a tough derby at home to Valencia, who need a win to assure fourth place and a return to the

could have already have assured that fourth spot, however, if Betis, who assured their return to on Monday night, fail to win away to

Athletic have struggled for form at home all season and will be without full backs and and the suspended

Finally, eighth-placed Girona, who have just one win in seven games, entertain Eibar, who on Thursday confirmed that will remain as for next season.

--IANS

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First Published: Thu, May 03 2018. 20:36 IST