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Published on May 1, 2026
Barcelona can claim a second consecutive La Liga title this weekend if they maintain their winning form and Real Madrid stumble again.
The Catalan club leads Madrid by 11 points with five games left.
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If Barcelona wins at Osasuna on Saturday, then Madrid will also need to win at Espanyol on Sunday to extend their title race one more time.
If all goes the way of Barcelona this week, then they will host Real Madrid in the next Clasico as the new champions.
While Hansi Flick is on the cusp of a third major title, including the 2025 Copa del Rey, in his two years in charge of Barcelona, Madrid faces a second consecutive season without major silverware.
How are the teams preparing for the La Liga weekend?
Barcelona is running away with a household name.
They have won nine in a row in La Liga, a domestic run that was only marred by defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals, which cost them their place in the competition.
The Catalan club can’t expect an easy win in Pamplona, however, as they try to pressure second-placed Real Madrid.
Ninth-placed Osasuna have lost just twice at El Sadar Stadium this season and are on a 10-match home run without defeat.
Madrid, meanwhile, have won just one of their last six games in all competitions as they approach the end of a disappointing season in which Xabi Alonso was sacked – barring a dramatic turn of events – Alvaro Arbeloa will also be sacked in the opening season.
Espanyol has been more difficult than Madrid.
Espanyol were in fifth place at the start of 2026, but have yet to win this year, an incredible run of 16 games, and have fallen into the main group of teams trying to avoid relegation.
Atletico Madrid play in Valencia on Saturday before Diego Simeone’s side visit Arsenal next week in their Champions League semi-final after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
Who are the key players this week?
Barcelona’s 22-year-old midfielder Fermin Lopez, who is expected to play for Spain at this year’s World Cup, ends the campaign as one of the most attacking players.
His goal in the 2-0 win at Getafe last Saturday was Fermín’s 13th of the season to go with 16 assists.
While Madrid are struggling, Vinicius Junior is keeping up his good form with two goals in his last two league games.
Raphinha’s return eases Yamal’s loss to Barcelona
Lamine Yamal is out for the season at Barcelona due to a muscle injury, but coach Flick is celebrating the return of winger Raphinha from injury.
Raphinha suffered a hip injury while playing in Brazil in March, which forced him to sit out Barcelona’s Champions League exit by Atletico.
“Rapha is a player who always gives us 100 percent, whether he’s on the pitch or in training,” Flick told reporters on Friday.
“His attitude, his attitude, he’s always 100 percent and that helps us a lot.” This season he has … struggled (due to injury), so for us, it is important to get him back.
“He will travel with us again and we will see what happens (against Osasuna)…
Flick added that Yamal is recovering from his injury, which is not expected to threaten his World Cup chances.
“He is doing well, so the evolution is good, I think we will see him in the World Cup,” said Flick.
He has time, more time, to heal, to come back. And this is what they want.
Is Barcelona closing in on La Liga history?
If Barca win their remaining five league games, they will reach the record of 100 which was set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and equaled by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona team in 2013.
“We just focus on the next game, (but) yes, we want to win every game from now until the end of the season,” Flick said.
“For me, it would be good if we win all the games, and we have strong opponents. Our job is, in every game, to play at our best level, to learn from the next game and from our training.
“So this is our wisdom, our thoughts, our thoughts.”
