Huge challenges coming up in May

There are five huge games left for FC Barcelona this season with two main goals to aim for. First and foremost, to ensure a top four finish and a place in the Champions League next season. But a top two finish would be better still, as that would also secure a place in next season’s Spanish Super Cup.

With a six-point cushion between them and fifth placed Real Betis, the Catalans are well on course for the first of those objectives.

The latter is a much closer call, with Sevilla equal with Barça on 63 points and Atlético Madrid just two behind. Copa del Rey winners and runners up Real Betis and Valencia are already assured two of the places, and with Real Madrid all but mathematically confirmed champions, there is just one remaining berth for the other teams to fight over.

Three games at Camp Nou

Three of the last five games are at Camp Nou. Against relegation threatened RCD Mallorca (Sunday 1 May at 9.00pm CEST), Barça will need to put an end to their negative run at home, where they have just lost two league games and one in the Europa League.

The penultimate visitors to the stadium are mid-table Celta Vigo, who won 2-1 at Camp Nou last season.

And finally, there’s Villarreal, who may be Champions League semi-finalists this time round, but still have some work to do if they are to play in Europe at all next season.

Two away fixtures

Barça’s next road trip is to Real Betis on Saturday 7 May at 9.00pm CEST. The recently crowned Copa del Rey champions won at Camp Nou in the reverse fixture and are still in with a shout of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

And the final destination is Getafe. By then, Quique Sánchez Flores’ side may well have already ensured that they won’t be relegated, but if they haven’t then they’ll be desperate to get any points they can.

So there are plenty of challenges ahead for FC Barcelona… Watch this space!

Trip down under

Once the official season has ended, FC Barcelona will be going on a historic first-ever trip to Australia to play against the A-League All-Stars before an expected crowd of 80,000 people at the Accor Stadium, Sydney, the second largest in the country, for the game on May 25