LaLiga Matchday 34: Barca can clinch title in Catalan derby

Barcelona can finally clinch the title this weekend with victory at local rivals Espanyol.

Things could even be decided beforehand if Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were to drop points prior to Barca's Sunday night showdown.

Los Blancos host Getafe in a Madrid derby, while Atleti appear to have a more straightforward task against bottom club Elche.

But a defeat for Diego Simeone's side coupled with dropped points for Carlo Ancelotti's men would see the Blaugrana take to the field as LaLiga champions on Sunday night.

At the other end of the table, Valencia's fight for survival continues with an important away clash against Celta Vigo.

Game of the week: Espanyol vs Barcelona (Sunday, 8pm)

The visitors go into this match knowing that a win over their relegation-threatened rivals will see them crowned LaLiga champions for a 27th time.

Encouragingly for the Blaugrana, this derby has been exceptionally one-sided of late — Espanyol have not won any of the last 25 clashes between the two (seven draws, 18 defeats).

In fact, Barca's 101 top-flight victories over their neighbours are the second-most wins any club has recorded over another in the competition's history.

If Robert Lewandowski can find the net in this crucial clash, he will become the joint-third fastest player to reach 20 LaLiga goals in the 21st century (level with Julio Baptista and behind Radamel Falcao and Cristiano Ronaldo).

Real Madrid vs Getafe (Saturday, 8pm)

Real will be keen to avoid a second successive LaLiga slip-up after losing 2-0 at Real Sociedad last time out — especially in a regional derby against Getafe.

But Los Blancos should be boosted by their history in this fixture. They have won 71.4% (25/35) of their top-flight games against Saturday's visitors, with no team having a better win percentage against them in the competition.

Furthermore, Getafe have lost each of their last 13 league fixtures at the Bernabeu — their worst losing run away from home against a single opponent.

Azulones boss Jose Bordalas may struggle to inspire his troops to defy the odds given he has not managed more games against any team without winning (two draws, eight defeats) than this weekend's opponents.

Real will hope to use victory in this encounter as a springboard ahead of their crucial Champions League semi-final second-leg meeting with Manchester City next week.

Elche vs Atletico Madrid (Sunday, 3.15pm)

Atleti leapfrogged rivals Real into second on Matchday 33 and will feel confident of keeping their noses in front when they visit relegated Elche.

The hosts have suffered defeat in each of their last 11 LaLiga fixtures against Los Rojiblancos, representing the club's worst run of consecutive losses against any single opponent in the top flight.

Nine of those triumphs were overseen by Simeone, who boasts a 100% record against Sunday's opponents as a result.

In fact, Elche's last victory over Atleti came in April 1985 —  before any of their current squad were even born.

Real Sociedad vs Girona (Saturday, 1pm)

Sociedad's spot in the top four is assured for at least a couple of weeks regardless of their result on Saturday.

The same cannot be said for Girona, who are clinging onto European qualification by their fingertips.

Athletic Bilbao, Rayo Vallecano, Osasuna and Sevilla are all within three points or less of them, so the Blanquivermells will be eager to edge ahead of the chasing pack.

La Real have kept the second-most clean sheets in the division this season (14), recording shut-outs in each of their previous three games. Girona, meanwhile, have kept the third-fewest (four).

Alexander Sorloth will be hoping to repeat his heroics from the reverse fixture when he scored his only LaLiga brace for Sociedad during a 5-3 win.

Celta Vigo vs Valencia (Sunday, 1pm)

Valencia go into this slate just outside the relegation zone, with their fight for survival looking likely to go all the way to the final day.

But Los Che have at least won each of their last four LaLiga meetings with next opponents Celta Vigo, keeping clean sheets in the previous two.

Ruben Baraja's team go into this clash having picked up seven points from their last four outings, which is as many as they managed in the 12 preceding that.

Celta, meanwhile, have lost four of their previous five (one win), while star striker Iago Aspas has failed to score in each of his last seven league games.

The weekend's other games

Mallorca vs Cadiz (Friday, 8pm) 

Osasuna vs Almeria (Saturday, 3.15pm) 

Villarreal vs Athletic Bilbao (Saturday, 5.30pm) 

Real Valladolid vs Sevilla (Sunday, 5.30pm) 

Real Betis vs Rayo Vallecano (Monday, 8pm)

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