RIVAL WATCH: FC Barcelona still top of the league

FC Barcelona are still top of the league (view table here) with just three games to go after their 3-0 derby victory at Espanyol on Saturday.

They are there by virtue of their better head-to-head record against co-leaders Real Madrid, who survived a scare to beat Valencia in a game that kicked off four and a half hours earlier. Cristiano Ronaldo headed the all-whites into a first half lead, and had also missed a penalty before a Daniel Parejo free kick on 82 minutes put the sides back level.

But Marcelo responded with a fine finish four minutes later, meaning that the top two are now tied on 81 points, but Real Madrid do have a game in hand on the Catalans.

Yellow Submarine sinks Sporting

Barcelona are in action next at the Camp Nou on Saturday at 6.30pm CET against Villarreal (tickets here), who beat Sporting Gijón 3-1 in Friday night’s game thanks to goals from Roberto Soldado and Congolese striker Cédric Bakambu. It’s a win that keeps alive Villarreal’s chances of clinching a Champions League berth next season, although a Europa League slot is probably the more realistic prospect.

Sporting pulled a late goal back through Douglas, on loan from Barça, but that was scant consolation for a side that is moving closer and closer to second division football next term.

Moments after Barça’s game with Villarreal, Real Madrid will be in action away to Granada, a side that was condemned to relegation on Saturday after going down 2-1 at Real Sociedad.