Barcelona wins at Osasuna and is on the cusp of La Liga
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres scored late in Barcelona's 2-1 win at Osasuna on Saturday, setting up a chance for Hansi Flick's side to be crowned Spanish league champions this weekend.
Barcelona opened a 14-point gap over Real Madrid with four rounds left after this weekend. Madrid must win at Espanyol on Sunday to stop Barcelona from clinching a second straight La Liga crown.
A victory by Madrid would prolong the title fight another week, when Barcelona hosts Madrid in a "clasico" match.
Late goals seal the win
Substitute Marcus Rashford picked out a run by Lewandowski and placed a cross for the striker to thump in with a powerful header in the 81st minute.
Torres added a second goal five minutes later, and Raúl García headed in one for Osasuna in the 89th.
"We have put the pressure on Madrid," Torres said.
Between wrapping it up now or having the chance to do so with a win over Madrid at Camp Nou, Torres said he was fine with celebrating a title from his home on Sunday if Madrid slips at Espanyol.
"For me I just want to be champions as soon as possible," he said. "That way we can start celebrating."
Flick hails team victory
Flick said that his players "were celebrating" in the changing room at El Sadar Stadium.
"It is a huge victory for us," said the former Bayern Munich coach, who is close to getting his second Spanish league title in as many seasons.
"We did our job today and this is what I want to see from my team," Flick said.
Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García made two key saves in the first half to keep it scoreless. Osasuna striker Ante Budimir also struck the post before halftime. It was only the third loss for 10th-placed Osasuna in Pamplona in the league this campaign.
Atletico wins before Arsenal clash
Atletico Madrid rested most of its starters but got goals from two debutants as it won 2-0 at Valencia before it faces Arsenal for a place in the Champions League final.
Julián Álvarez, Alexander Sorloth and Giuliano Simeone, who all finished Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Arsenal with niggles, were among those players left off Atletico's squad for the Spanish league game.
Atletico travels to London for the second leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.
Diego Simeone called up nine youth team players for the visit to Valencia, with Iker Luque and Miguel Cubo coming on in the second half and scoring in the 73rd and 82nd for the win at Mestalla Stadium.
Atletico defender Nahuel Molina almost scored one of the goals of the season when he let rip a powerful strike from near the midfield circle that smacked the corner of the goal frame in the first half.
Atletico remained in fourth place and on course for another Champions League berth next season. Valencia was 13th and still in danger of falling into a relegation battle.
The game at Valencia was Simeone's 1,000th as a coach, Atletico said, with 795 at the Spanish club where he has been in charge since 2011.
Milestone for Valverde
Ernesto Valverde also coached his 500th game for Athletic Bilbao when he oversaw a 4-2 win at Alaves, with Spain winger Nico Williams scoring twice.
Both are club records.
Simeone memposting di X bahwa dia "bersyukur kepada semua orang yang telah menemani dan membantu saya mencapai angka ini (pemain, rekan-rekan, pejabat klub, fans) sejak saya melatih sejak tahun 2006."
Pemain Athletic mengenakan kaos dengan nama belakang ibu mereka untuk merayakan Hari Ibu, yang jatuh pada hari Minggu di Spanyol.
Villarreal lolos ke Liga Champions
Villarreal menjamin akan finis di empat besar dan bermain di kompetisi elit klub Eropa untuk musim kedua berturut-turut setelah membantai Levante 5-1.
Georges Mikautadze mencatat dua gol untuk Villarreal yang berada di posisi ketiga.
Joseph Wilson, Associated Press