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La Liga Wrap: Madrid clubs stagger on dramatic day
4 May 2014
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid slipped up in search of pivotal wins on a dramatic day in La Liga's title race.
Following Barcelona's surprise 2-2 draw against Getafe on Saturday, the capital clubs had the chance to all but end the defending champions' ambitions.
But Diego Simeone’s team passed up the chance to open a six-point advantage as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat on the road at bogey club Levante.
Real could not capitalise on this double slice of fortune in the late kick-off and needed a brilliant equaliser from Cristiano Ronaldo in stoppage time to hold Valencia to a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu.
Atletico found themselves behind early on when Filipe Luis diverted a corner into his own net.
Mohamed Sissoko and Diego Costa were perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch just after the half-hour.
Referee Jose Gonzalez took no action despite the Atletico forward appearing to push his head into the Mali international, who then raised his hands to Costa’s face.
Levante defended resolutely and were rewarded in the 68th minute when David Barral finished clinically on the counter-attack.
The game ended in regrettable circumstances. Levante's Papakouli Diop became involved in a heated exchange with a section of Atletico's fans and later accused them of making racist chants towards him.
Real kicked off in the knowledge that wins in their remaining four games would be enough to take the championship, but Valencia had not read that script.
Goals from Jeremy Mathieu and former Real youth product Daniel Parejo either side of Sergio Ramos' equaliser looked to have handed Juan Antonio Pizzi's side a famous triumph.
Visiting goalkeeper Diego Alves was magnificent throughout, routinely thwarting Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Portuguese finally got the better of him in stoppage time to earn a point.
At conclusion of a tumultuous day, Atletico appear best placed, knowing victory in their last two outings will see them crowned champions. The last of those matches is the highly anticipated season-closer at Camp Nou, where Real must now hope fierce enemies Barca do them a huge favour.
At the other end of the table, Ramon Azeez's last minute header moved 10-man Almeria out of the bottom three as they secured a priceless 3-2 win over relegated Real Betis.
The game exploded into after an eventful but goalless first-half when Oscar Diaz converted Aleix Vidal's cross in the 52nd minute.
Shortly afterwards, Almeria’s on-loan Liverpool midfielder Suso was given a straight red for bringing down Damien Perquis and Braian Rodriguez levelled from close range for Betis with an hour played.
Substitute Salva Sevilla drilled into the bottom corner to put the hosts in front before Vidal netted an equaliser and Azeez lit up a the thrilling climax that brought fans streaming onto the pitch amid jubilant scenes at the final whistle.
Elsewhere, Villarreal played out a goalless draw against UEFA Europa League finalists Sevilla - limiting their own chances of qualifying for next season's competition.
Diego Simeone hopes Atletico Madrid's 2-0 defeat to Levante on Sunday will work as a catalyst in the closing weeks of the season.
A Filipe Luis own goal and David Barral's 69th-minute strike condemned Atletico to their first loss since February, and breathed life into the Liga title race.
Atletico's fate remains in their hands, two wins from their final two games will be enough for a first title since 1996, though they face a daunting trip to barcelona on the final day.
Should Simeone's men slip up, it will likely give local rivals Real Madrid the chance to capitalise, though the Catalans remain in with a chance themselves.
Atletico will also face Real in in the UEFA Champions League final and Simeone hopes the pain of Sunday's defeat will inspire them to finish the campaign strongly.
"This defeat is the best thing to happen to us because it makes us live with high intensity and excitement in these three weeks," said the Argentinian.
"It's the ideal time for men, for players. We expect three fantastic weeks."
The Atletico boss was quick to praise a resolute Levante display at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, especially goalkeeper Keylor Navas, and insisted there were plenty of positives despite the loss.
"Levante scored a very quick goal and then defended well," he added. "It's true we had chances but their goalkeeper put in a great performance.
"We looked for different ways to level. We had the desire to create scoring chances.
"On this occasion we had to lose.
"We expect three finals and we have to focus on the first one, which is Malaga on Sunday.
"Ahead is three weeks of excitement, pure football. Now the league is much more fun."
Barca need a coach with character like Luis Enrique - Soriano
By Enis Koylu
May 6, 2014 9:15:30 AM
The former Blaugrana striker says his old boss would be an ideal candidate to succeed Tata Martino due to his philosophy and mentality
Former Barcelona B attacker Jonathan Soriano believes that the club are in need of a coach with character like Luis Enrique.
It has been rumoured that the Catalans are looking to replace current boss Gerardo Martino at the end of the campaign, with the Celta Vigo boss reportedly in the frame.
And Soriano, who worked with the former Spain international during his time at Camp Nou believes his old coach ticks all the boxes.
"Barca now need a coach with character and clear ideas," the Red Bull Salzburg striker told SER.
"And everyone knows that Luis Enrique doesn't miss that. Enrique knows how to deal with big players. At first when he was at Roma, he clashed with [Francesco] Totti, but then delighted him.
"He wants possession but in the end, the goal is what matters. This is what we are seeing at Celta: control of the ball but attacking."
Failure at Valladolid would end Real's title hopes - Ancelotti
MADRID Tue May 6, 2014 1:10pm BST
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti watches his team play Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final first leg soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid April 23, 2014. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
(Reuters) - Real Madrid must win Wednesday's La Liga game at relegation-battling Real Valladolid or their hope of snatching the title from Atletico Madrid or Barcelona will be over, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday.
Real missed a chance to wrest the initiative from leaders Atletico and second-placed Barca when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia on Sunday and Ancelotti warned there was no more room for mistakes.
Atletico are top on 88 points after Sunday's shock 2-0 reverse at Levante with two games left. Barca, who host Atletico on the final day of the season and were held to a 2-2 stalemate at home to Getafe on Saturday, are on 85.
Real are two points behind Barca in third before their game in hand at second-from-bottom Valladolid.
"We have to win our three remaining games in La Liga," Ancelotti, whose side are through to face Atletico in this month's Champions League final, told a news conference.
"The Valladolid game is like a final for us because not winning it would mean losing the league," added the Italian, in his first season in charge at the Bernabeu.
"We are very focussed and tomorrow we will give everything to win. It is a crucial match for both teams. They are fighting for survival and it won't be easy."
This season's La Liga title race is one of the closest in years with Atletico emerging as a third force to rival Real and Barca, the world's richest clubs by income.
Since the introduction of three points for a victory in the 1995-96 season, in only two campaigns have three teams retained a chance of winning going into the final match.
Deportivo La Coruna came out on top in 2000 against Barcelona and Zaragoza, while in 2007 Real Madrid beat Barcelona and Sevilla to the title.
There is a genuine chance that if they beat Atletico on the final day Barca would hand to title to their bitter rivals Real, while Atletico can seal it with a win against Malaga this weekend and a draw at the Nou Camp. Should Barcelona beat Atletico and both finish on the same points they would finish above them on head-to-head - but that could open the door for Real.
Ancelotti said Real's Wales winger Gareth Bale would miss Wednesday's game along with fullback Dani Carvajal.
Spanish media reported the pair were feeling the effects of Sunday's match and had not trained with their team mates.
Luka Modric, who missed the Valencia match with a calf problem, was available and fellow midfielder Sami Khedira, who has not played since tearing knee ligaments in November, could also feature, Ancelotti added.
(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Mitch Phillips)
Real Sociedad missed the chance to clinch UEFA Europa League football for next season after conceding a late equaliser to Granada on Monday.
Odion Ighalo scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to earn Granada a point in San Sebastian, which kept Villarreal's slim hopes of playing in next season's Europa League alive.
Both teams finished the match with 10 players after Granada's Recio and Sociedad's Mikel Gonzalez were red-carded early in the second half.
Jagoba Arrasate's Sociedad could have wrapped up sixth spot on Monday, and the accompanying berth in next season's Europa League, but the draw leaves them five points ahead of seventh-placed Villarreal with two rounds left in La Liga.
If Villarreal beat Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and Sociedad lose the Basque derby to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, Villarreal will take on Arrasate's men in a winner-takes-all encounter in San Sebastian on the final day of the season.
Sociedad dominated the goal-scoring opportunities against Granada with 21 shots - six on target - compared to the visitors' 15, three of which were goal-bound.
But the home side had to wait until deep in the second half to finally break open Granada's defence through Carlos Vela.
Before Vela's opening goal, Recio was shown a second yellow card for dissent in the 54th minute, while Gonzalez was given his marching orders three minutes later for a lunge on Granada midfielder Manuel Iturra.
In the 78th minute, Vela opened the scoring with a sharp first-time finish from Alberto De La Bella's cutback from the left side and Sociedad were on track for a vital three points.
But the hosts were unable to maintain their advantage until the final whistle, with Granada attacking down the right through Jeison Murillo and Ighalo converted, although the Nigerian striker appeared to be offside.
The draw took Granada to 38 points in 15th, three points clear of the relegation zone.
Granada will take on fellow relegation candidates in their final two games; 16th-placed Almeria at home on Sunday and 19th-placed Real Valladolid a week later.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has added to UEFA's condemnation of the alleged racist abuse suffered by Levante's Papakouli Diop on Sunday.
The Senegalese midfielder was involved in a heated exchange with Atletico Madrid supporters after his side's 2-0 victory at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia at the weekend.
Diop went to take a corner in the closing stages of the game, but referee Jose Gonzalez blew the final whistle before he could so and the 28-year-old kicked the ball into the section of away supporters.
The Levante man alleges that fans made monkey gestures at him, to which he responded by dancing in front of them.
UEFA reiterated on Monday that both the organisation and its president Michel Platini "strongly condemn" all forms of discrimination in the game.
Blatter added that he was "very angry" at the situation and suggested that clubs should face harsher punishments if their fans are found guilty of racism.
Speaking at the opening of a CAF Centre of Excellence in Mbankomo, Cameroon, he said: "Teams should be docked points or relegated."
Real Madrid can ill afford another slip-up in the La Liga title race when they travel to relegation-threatened Real Valladolid on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were held to a 2-2 draw with Valencia on Sunday and remain in third place as a result of that setback.
The UEFA Champions League finalists needed a stunning stoppage-time effort from Cristiano Ronaldo to even salvage a point at the Bernabeu.
That result ensured the Madrid giants are five points behind leaders and city rivals Atletico with three games remaining, although Real do have a game in hand.
Atleti's 2-0 defeat at Levante on Sunday gave their neighbours and Barcelona some slight hope in an enthralling battle for the title.
Barca, three points behind Atletico, also slipped up on Saturday, with strugglers Getafe claiming a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou.
With Atleti - who face Ancelotti's men in the Champions League final on May 24 - and the Catalan giants meeting on the last day of the season, the title is still in their hands.
Wily Italian Ancelotti has not given up hope of more twists, though.
He said: "It's still difficult. It's as I've always said - this league is going to be decided in the last few games.
"There are three games to go that we have to win. It won't be easy, as we play two of them away against teams that have something to fight for.
"We must be clever and prepared. The drive to win is the same as always."
Ronaldo's cheeky backheel was his 50th goal of the season, a sensational landmark that he has achieved for four seasons in a row.
And Valladolid – unbeaten in their last 11 home matches - will have to keep a close eye on the Portugal captain in a game which gives them the opportunity to move out of the relegation zone.
Juan Ignacio Martinez's side breathed new life into the battle to avoid relegation with a precious 1-0 win against Espanyol on Saturday.
Antonio Rukavina picked a great time to score his first goal of the season as he grabbed the winner after 20 minutes at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla.
That was their first win in five games and just a point against Ancelotti's charges would be enough for them to move above Osasuna, Getafe and Almeria into 16th spot with games against already-relegated Real Betis and fellow strugglers Granada to come.
Ancelotti has previously revealed that Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas will make his first La Liga appearance of the season in place of Diego Lopez to get some playing time ahead of the Champions League final.
But it remains to be seen if Luka Modric (leg injury) is available to return.
Valladolid could be without striker Manucho after the striker sustained a knee injury against Espanyol, while midfielder Fausto Rossi is suspended after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti blamed Real Madrid's draw with Valladolid on mental fatigue but insisted La Liga's title race is not over.
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo going off injured early on, Real went ahead through Sergio Ramos, but a late header from substitute Humberto Osorio ensured the spoils were shared.
The result marked Real's second successive draw, which Ancelotti attributes to them having played 10 matches since the start of April as they bid to conquer Spain and the UEFA Champions League.
"Physically we are not tired," said the Italian. "But mental tiredness cost us. After such a Champions League semi-final it's not easy to recover quickly at such an important tie of the season.
"We were in control for 70 minutes, but we lost control, sat back and conceded a goal from a set-piece."
The result leaves Real four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, and one behind second-placed Barcelona, with two rounds remaining.
Ancelotti nonetheless maintained that his side will keep fighting for La Liga.
"It will be very difficult but it's still possible mathematically," he said. "We have to win our remaining two games. I don’t care who are the favourites."
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo may be a doubt for the UEFA Champions League final after going off injured against Real Valladolid.
The Portugal international has been in scintillating form in 2013-14 and notched his 50th goal of the season in all competitions with a spectacular back-heeled volley against Valencia on Sunday.
But he suffered a suspected muscle problem in the opening stages of Wednesday's Valladolid game and was withdrawn after just eight minutes. Ronaldo was spotted pointing towards his thigh when he was replaced by Alvaro Morata.
The potential loss of talisman Ronaldo could not have come at a worse time for Real as they remain in the hunt for a La Liga and Champions League double.
Real have two league games left after their trip to Valladolid as Carlo Ancelotti's men head to Celta Vigo and host Espanyol before facing La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final on May 24 in Lisbon.
With the FIFA World Cup in Brazil also little over 30 days away, the 2013 Ballon d'Or winner will be hoping for some positive news when he undergoes further medical checks.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has labelled rumours of him leaving the club as "nonsense and most of them lies".
The Argentina international, 26, is regularly linked with moves away from the Liga giants, who are reportedly close to extending his contract.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Messi slammed the media for recent reports, insisting that most were incorrect.
"A lot of information about me was published in the last weeks and also throughout the year, and they were nonsense and most of them lies," he said.
"I'm feeling fine and the important thing here is that we depend on ourselves to win the title. It was a difficult year, of course, but having the chance to win the league is very important for us."
Barcelona are still alive in the title race, needing two wins – including at leaders Atletico Madrid on the final day – to defend their crown.
Messi is unsure whether that would be enough to make up for a disappointing campaign, but is pleased his team's destiny is in their own hands.
"We feel better than in previous weeks," he said.
"Now we have the chance to win the title depending on ourselves. We must make the most of this opportunity and we'll try not to fail.
"Winning the league is always important. It's very important and very hard to achieve as it's the result of a year's work. I don't know if it would make our season decent but it'd be really important."
Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has claimed young Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan is the subject of interest from Real Madrid.
Ryan was an integral part of the Central Coast Mariners team which won the A-League title under Arnold in 2012-13, earning a move to Belgian side Club Brugge in May 2013.
He quickly made the number one shirt his own at the Pro League title contenders and is also in pole position to start for the Socceroos at the FIFA World Cup following the retirement of Mark Schwarzer.
And Arnold has now told the ABC his former charge is impressing one of the world's biggest clubs.
"You look at Maty Ryan," he said when asked how a young Socceroos side will fare in Brazil next month.
"Maty Ryan left here last year. He's gone across to Belgium, he's the best goalkeeper in the league I do believe and I have heard he's getting interest from Real Madrid. He's been doing that well."
It remains to be seen how serious Real Madrid's alleged interest in the 22-year-old shot-stopper is.
Diego Lopez displaced club captain Iker Casillas as their first-choice goalkeeper under Jose Mourinho last season and he has kept his place in La Liga during Carlo Ancelotti's first campaign in charge.
Spain stalwart Casillas, consistently linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu since falling from favour, has played throughout the team's run to the UEFA Champions League final.
Former Numancia keeper Jesus Fernandez is also a member of the senior squad, and has made two first-team appearances since 2011.
The 25-year-old is unlikely to play against Malaga on Sunday after picking up a thigh injury which forced him to miss training on Friday
Atletico Madrid's hopes of completing a Liga and Champions League double have been dealt a blow with the news that Diego Costa has suffered a thigh injury.
The Brazil-born Spain international has spearheaded his side's charge to the top of the Primera Division with 27 goals in 34 appearances.
He was unable to prevent a 2-0 loss to Levante last week and is unlikely to participate against Malaga on Sunday, though he should be fit to face Barcelona the following week.
"Diego Costa underwent tests to determine the extent of the grade one thigh injury muscle on his right leg," a club statement reads.
"These tests have confirmed that there is no tear. The forward did not train with his team-mates in the morning session on Friday."
Costa suffered a similar injury against Barcelona during the first leg of their Champions League tie.
Atleti face Malaga on home soil on Sunday before travelling to Camp Nou for a mouth-watering clash on the final day of the season.
La Liga Preview: Atleti, Barcelona resume riveting race
9 May 2014
Atletico Madrid aim to stride towards one of La Liga's most unforeseen conquests as a thrilling title race enters its penultimate round.
Atleti lead Barcelona, whom they visit on the final day, by three points at the summit, with Real Madrid a further point back in third.
The trio, who all failed to win in the same round of fixtures for the first time this season last weekend, kick off simultaneously on Sunday: Atleti at home to Malaga, Barca away to relegation-threatened Elche, and Real at mid-table Celta Vigo.
And Diego Simeone, whose side could lay their hands on the trophy should Barca fail to pick up three points, believes the whole country wants to see David outlast two Goliaths and lift the trophy at the end of the season.
"It’s not easy to break the stranglehold of two such powerful teams," said the Atleti boss. "Fans of teams all across Spain are behind us."
Malaga do not have the best of records at Vicente Calderon in the league, though two victories in the past four campaigns could give the hosts cause for concern.
Elche are unbeaten in front of their own supporters in 2014, but their last win over Barca came way back in 1974.
Lionel Messi will certainly be up for the fixture, however, as he lurks three goals behind Cristiano Ronaldo on the Liga scoring charts.
With little chance of winning the title, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti may choose to rest key players with one eye on the UEFA Champions League final.
Victory for Atleti would rule their city rivals out of the chase for the league crown.
Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad have secured UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football respectively, so their Basque Derby will be all about bragging rights.
Antoine Griezmann and Carlos Vela, who has scored in his past three appearances, have dazzled for Sociedad this season, but in Aymeric Laporte, Bilbao have one of the most coveted young defenders in Europe.
Sociedad have won their last three derbies by two-goal margins, but Bilbao enter the latest pursuing a fifth win in six matches.
The relegation battle will recommence with Granada and Almeria, both hovering narrowly above the bottom three, doing battle, and third-bottom Getafe at home to fifth-placed Sevilla.
Real Valladolid and Osasuna know they must seize their opportunities to boost their survival hopes - they are away to relegated Betis and a desperately out-of-sorts Espanyol respectively.
The round begins with two matches of little importance on Saturday, with seventh-placed Villarreal hosting Rayo Vallecano and Valencia away at Levante.
Real Madrid must win at Celta Vigo on Sunday and hope Barcelona and Atletico Madrid slip up if they are to remain in the Liga title race.
Carlo Ancelotti's side dropped points against Valencia and Real Valladolid in disappointing draws last week, meaning Barca and Atletico both now have the league crown in their hands.
Those draws have left Real four points adrift of city rivals and UEFA Champions League final opponents Atletico, who host Malaga this weekend as Barca travel to Elche.
With Diego Simeone's men heading to Camp Nou on the final day, there remains an outside chance for Real to usurp their rivals and claim back the crown they last won in 2012.
Having won the Copa del Rey in April, and with a Lisbon showdown against Atletico to come later this month, Ancelotti refuses to give up on winning a treble.
He said: "Winning La Liga will be very difficult, but it's still mathematically possible. We have to carry on and win our remaining two La Liga games. I'm not concerned about who the favourites are to win the title."
The Real coach is confident of having Cristiano Ronaldo available after the Portugal forward limped off with just nine minutes on the clock in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Valladolid.
"He wasn't in pain and wasn't complaining of a muscle sprain," Ancelotti said.
If Ronaldo does miss out, Real may turn to a new goalscoring hero to find the net after Sergio Ramos made it five in four matches with the opener in midweek.
The defender, perhaps more famed for clocking up cards than goals, marked his 400th appearance for the club with his 36th Liga goal for the Bernabeu outfit.
Celta, who have won three in a row, provided spirited opposition for more than an hour in January's reverse fixture before Karim Benzema broke their resistance and Ronaldo added two more in a 3-0 win for the hosts.
But it has been a hugely improved campaign for Celta, who triumphed in their final two games last term to finish just one point above the relegation zone.
Luis Enrique's side look set for a top-half finish and they have been in fine form in front of goal lately, scoring 12 times in their past four outings.
The visitors will be without defender Pepe, who has a calf injury, while Celta could stick with Sergio Alvarez in goal after he made his first appearance of the season in place of Yoel for the 2-0 win at Osasuna.
Victory for Atletico Madrid against Malaga on Sunday could see them crowned La Liga champions for the first time since 1996.
If Atleti bounce back from their defeat to Levante and Barcelona fail to beat Elche, Diego Simeone's men will have brought a conclusion to one of the most enthralling title races Spain has seen for many years.
A Filipe Luis own goal coupled with David Barral's late effort condemned Atleti to a first La Liga defeat in 11 matches but Simeone's charges were spared slightly by the fact that Barcelona and Real Madrid both dropped points.
Regardless, Simeone will be hopeful of a better showing against Malaga in their final game of the season at the Vicente Calderon.
Malaga, five points clear of the drop, have work to do to make certain their safety and Atleti will hope to do their bit while praying for a Barca defeat - ahead of their potentially decisive trip to Camp Nou on the final day.
However, defender Juanfran has warned against taking Malaga lightly and says the squad are not thinking of the Barcelona match or its likely importance.
"If we win both of the remaining fixtures we'll be champions and the first one is against Malaga," he said. "But it would be an error to think beyond Malaga.
"The team is doing perfectly. If you work, work, work, you'll be rewarded and we've worked as hard as anyone."
Atleti won the reverse fixture 1-0 in January and have lost just one of their last seven meetings with Malaga.
Sunday's hosts will be confident of extending that strong run with Bernd Schuster's charges having won just one of their last four while failing to score in their last two outings.
Malaga's hopes may be boosted by the potential absence of Diego Costa (thigh), but goalkeeper Willy Caballero has urged his team-mates to simply focus on ending the season well.
The former Elche stopper has "no interest" in the title race and instead wants to secure the win that will keep them safe.
"With regards to my opinion on the league, my only concern is fighting for my club and to ensure our place in the elite next season," he said.
"Nothing else interests me right now. We need to remain cautious and fight and defend well.
"I have no interest in who wins the league this year."
Barcelona begin the most important two weeks of their season hoping to inflict a first home Liga defeat in nearly five months on Elche.
Gerardo Martino's men know they will retain their title if they win both of their remaining two matches after leaders Atletico Madrid and third-placed Real Madrid failed to take advantage of them drawing 2-2 at home to Getafe last week.
Atletico lost 2-0 at Levante 24 hours after Barca's draw, while Real only took a point from their match against Valencia and then drew 1-1 at Real Vallodolid in midweek.
Therefore, Barca sit three points adrift of Atleti and one ahead of Real, with the Catalan giants scheduled to host Diego Simeone's team on the final day of the season.
Elche, however, will likely provide stern opposition for the reigning champions on Sunday.
Fran Escriba's side are unbeaten in their last nine home Liga games, and know a point against Barca would assure their top-flight survival.
Barca are unlikely to have too much trouble stifling an Elche attack that has scored just 29 goals in La Liga this season, but breaking down one of the meanest defence in the bottom half will be a challenge.
Elche have shipped just 47 goals this term, conceding only twice at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero since the turn of the year.
And Escriba is hopeful of providing yet another twist in the title race this weekend.
"We have to be more intense than in the game at the Camp Nou. I trust that we will score and we can win," he said.
Barca ran out 4-0 winners in the reverse fixture, with Alexis Sanchez grabbing a hat-trick on that occasion.
Elche will be without goalkeeper Tono and defender Alberto Botia through suspension.
Barca have longstanding injury worries throughout the squad with regular first-teamers Victor Valdes (knee), Carles Puyol (knee), Gerard Pique (groin), Jordi Alba (hamstring) and Neymar (foot) all unavailable.
FC Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez, second left, celebrates scoring against Getafe with his teammates Xavi Hernandez, left, and Lionel Messi, from Argentina during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday May 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
MADRID: The La Liga title race now looks like a two-way fight, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona heading for a championship showdown in the last round if they both win this weekend. Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw at Real Valladolid Wednesday improved Atletico’s chances of winning their first league title since 1996, although they will probably have to hold off Barcelona at Camp Nou in the last round. However, Atletico could be crowned champions with a victory against Malaga Sunday if Barcelona fail to win at Elche.
Madrid’s untimely draw gifted Barcelona the chance to win their fifth title in six seasons despite the defending champions recent stumbles through the closing stages of a turbulent season.
With two matches remaining, Atletico have 88 points, Barcelona 85, and Madrid 84.
Barcelona host Atletico on the final match day, and would successfully defend their title if they win the last two games.
Here are five things to know about the 37th round of matches:
BARCELONA IN THE HUNT
Barcelona have been the big winners in Atletico and Real’s recent slip-ups, having written off their title defense two weeks ago. But now there is suddenly renewed hope that the team can avoid a first season without a major trophy since 2007.
“I never thought these results would happen,” Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez said. “The league has given us a second chance. We’ve got to go for it.”INJURY WOES Madrid must decide whether they will continue fighting for the league title despite slim chances of winning, or focus on getting the squad healthy for the Champions League final on May 24.
Forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria and defender Pepe all came away with injury problems from the draw at Valladolid, while Gareth Bale missed the match completely along with defenders Dani Carvajal and Raphaele Varane.
“We’ll know soon. I don’t think Cristiano Ronaldo has a major problem,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said ahead of Sunday’s game at Celta Vigo. “ Pepe finished the game and we’ll see. I don’t think Di Maria is a big worry.”
SLEEPING LIKE A BABY
Atletico coach Diego Simeone is not losing any sleep over his team’s title challenge.
Atletico return to their Vicente Calderon Stadium for the final time this season, hopeful they can clinch the championship on home turf against Malaga.
Atletico have to recover from a demoralizing 2-0 loss at Levante, which came days after their rousing victory over Chelsea to reach the Champions League final. Unlike Madrid, Atletico don’t have the option of resting players with the Lisbon final in mind, knowing every point can be decisive.
The Argentine coach is enjoying the unexpected position Atletico find themselves in.
“I sleep well because this is my passion and I’m in the place where I want to be, coaching the team I want to,” Simeone said. “I can’t complain.”
CELTA’S PRIZED COACH
Celta Vigo don’t expect to be losing coach Luis Enrique just yet.
Enrique met with Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta earlier this week, fueling speculation the former Barcelona player would be replacing Gerardo Martino next season.
Despite the very public interest, Celta will not let the former Roma coach go without a fight.
“That meeting doesn’t really seem too bad to us,” Celta vice president Ricardo Barrios said.
“There’s no plan B, our plan A is Luis Enrique will be our coach because he still has one more year to go on his contract.”
RELEGATION IN SIGHT
With last-place Real Betis already relegated, two more teams are facing the drop.
Six teams are within five points of each other, with Osasuna and Getafe currently in those final two drop spots.
Valladolid look to follow up their Madrid result at Betis, while Almeria and Granada’s game could leave one of the clubs in trouble as they flirt with the drop.
Games with title or relegation implications will all kick off Sunday at 8 p.m. Beirut time.
La Liga Wrap: Villarreal smash Rayo, Levante grab Valencia bragging rights
10 May 2014
Villarreal remain in the hunt for fifth after beating Rayo Vallecano 4-0 on Saturday, while Levante defeated city rivals Valencia 2-0.
Marcelino Garcia Toral's men are already set for a UEFA Europa League spot next season, but they remain intent on avoiding qualification through the play-offs as they eye sixth place.
Ikechukwu Uche netted his 13th La Liga goal of the season in the 22nd minute, making him the division's highest-scoring African ahead of Granada's Youssef El Arabi.
Bruno Soriano doubled Villarreal's lead three minutes before the break as the hosts went into half-time on-course for another victory.
Jonathan Pereira gave the home side a three-goal lead nine minutes after half-time and Rayo's already-difficult task was made even harder in the 63rd minute as Anaitz Arbilla received a straight red for a tackle from behind on Moi Gomez.
Villarreal wrapped up the win and 4-0 scoreline a minute later through Jaume Costa, moving them on to 56 points, two behind Real Sociedad, who play at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Ten-man Levante defeated city rivals Valencia 2-0 at home in Saturday's late match.
Although the match has no bearing on proceedings at the top or bottom of the table, local pride was at stake as Valencia looked to give their fans something to cheer about after a disappointing season.
Juan Antonio Pizzi's players were unable to oblige, however, and although the match was goalless for over an hour, Levante eventually broke through.
Angel gave the hosts a 70th-minute lead and their second followed soon after.
Andreas Ivanschitz added number two with 81 minutes on the clock and although Pedro Lopez's late red card initially put Levante's position in doubt, they held on to move up to eighth place with 48 points.
Carlo Ancelotti feels Real Madrid paid the price for failing to match their European intensity, after their Liga title bid was ended.
Back-to-back draws against Valencia and Real Valladolid preceded Sunday's trip to Celta Vigo, meaning that their hopes of challenging for the championship had all but ended prior to this weekend.
As it is, they must now watch on from the sidelines as Barcelona meet Atletico Madrid in what will effectively be a title decider - after a double from Charles gave Celta a 2-0 victory to confirm Real's fate.
That proved particularly frustrating for Ancelotti given their trio of decisive slip-ups came after Real's 4-0 UEFA Champions League semi-final triumph at Bayern Munich, which sealed a 5-0 aggregate success.
They are still on course for an historic Decima in Europe, but the Italian conceded that they had failed to match those standards domestically in recent weeks.
"It is true that in the last three games we have not done well," said Ancelotti. "From the semi-finals, we have lowered the intensity and paid dearly."
For Real, all eyes now turn to Lisbon, where they will tackle city rivals Atletico in the final of Europe's premier competition on May 24.
Ancelotti added: "We now need to look at what we have done well to recover energy and recover the players for the final."
There is, though, plenty of cause for concern ahead of that point, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing out against Celta altogether due to a thigh strain, while Gareth Bale settled for a place on the bench having not been deemed 100 per cent fit.
Ancelotti revealed: "Bale was not 100 per cent and I did not want to risk Cristiano. He had treatment this morning and is almost recovered; I think in the end he will play the next match against Espanyol."
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino believes the club's supporters will be vital in next weekend's title decider against Atletico Madrid.
Martino's side could only draw 0-0 at Elche on Sunday but results elsewhere mean that the Catalans can still retain their Liga crown heading into the final weekend of the season.
Coupled with Atletico Madrid's 1-1 draw against Malaga, Barcelona's stalemate leaves them three points behind Diego Simeone's men but a win when the two sides meet will hand them the Liga crown courtesy of their head-to-head record against their rivals.
And with such a nervy end to the season expected, Martino is counting on the supporters at Camp Nou to drive his team to glory.
He told the club's official website: "It wasn't what we wanted (against Elche), but we're pleased with the point given the results from the other games (Atletico and Real Madrid, the latter of whom lost 2-0 against Celta Vigo to end their challenge).
"The most important thing is to get to the end of the season with a chance of winning the title.
"In the final minutes there was ambiguity in our approach because we needed to score but a goal from Elche would have seen us out of the competition. We tried until the end regardless of the results from the other matches
"We hope to have the support from the fans for the remaining 90 minutes of the season; with the help of our people we can win the title."
