Things are looking better than ever for FC Barcelona after Tuesday's Liga matches. Not only did they beat Osasuna 1-0 thanks to Jordi Alba's late clincher, but Real Madrid lost 2-0 at Real Sociedad in the game immediately after. Goals from Take Kubo and Barrenetxea have virtually confirmed the Catalans as league champions.
Atlético Madrid still in the equation
Barça now lead the league by 14 points. However that lead could be reduced to 13 points on Wednesday. And that's because Atlético Madrid would move up to second if they beat Cádiz today Wednesday.
Barça would be mathematically confirmed as champions if they beat Espanyol in the derby at Cornellà on Sunday 14 May at 9pm CEST.
Possible title before playing
It's actually possible that Barça could be confirmed as champions before the game with Espanyol has even kicked off. That would be the case if two things happen. First, Atlético Madrid would need to lose one of the two games that they have before then, at home to Cadiz tonight at 10pm CEST, or away to Villarreal on May 13 at 6.30pm CEST.
Second, Real Madrid would need to slip up at the Santiago Bernabéu on May 13 at 9pm CEST, when the visitors are Getafe.
No matter what happens in those games, victory in the derby would assure Barça the title. Failing that, they would still have four more games to go, and would need to win just one of them to become champions. Even if in what we would hope to be the extremely unlikely scenario of Barça losing all five of their remaining matches, one of the two Madrid clubs would still have to win every one of their own five matches to catch them.
In other words, it is safe to say that the title is now just a matter of time...