Ernesto Valverde's side had earlier been replaced in the final Champions League spot by Valencia, which beat Getafe.

But Sociedad responded by coming from a goal down to knock off Sevilla. Ivan Rakitic gave the host an 11th-minute lead but put through his own net six minutes later to level the scores again.

Sociedad then went ahead with Imanol Agirretxe's 26th-minute strike and it stayed there, to return above Valencia in the standings with two matches remaining.

Valencia defeated Getafe 1-0 courtesy of Jeremy Mathieu's goal just before half-time

Granada, meanwhile, took a huge step towards securing its La Liga status with a 3-0 victory over fellow struggler Osasuna.

Granada edged the encounter in every department but the lead given to it by Youssef El Arabi's 23rd-minute goal was being increasingly tested until the 79th minute, when Fernando Nano felled Yacine Brahimi in the penalty area.

Nano saw red and Guilherme Siqueira's cheeky dinked penalty wrapped up three vital points, before Diego Buonanotte added an exclamation mark late on.

The win sends Granada seven points clear of the relegation zone before 18th-placed Deportivo La Coruna faces Espanyol. If Depor fails to win that match, Granada will be safe.

That result leaves third-placed Alcorcon 11 points behind Elche, which plays fourth-placed Almeria, with only three games left to play.

Elche has not played in the top flight since it was relegated in 1989.

Vilanova had been scheduled to have the "pioneering treatment" next month but it has been brought forward, with Barca having won the Primera Division title with three games to spare.

The 44-year-old spent two months in New York earlier this year undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, having twice had surgery on his parotid gland in Spain over the last 18 months.

He returned to America for follow-up tests a fortnight ago and for his upcoming trip is set to be away from Barcelona for five days.

"Tito Vilanova has confirmed at a press conference that he will have further treatment for cancer next week in New York. The pioneering treatment has been developed at a specialised centre and is proving particularly effective," a Barcelona statement on its website read.

"It was originally planned for this summer but as Barca has now clinched the league title it has been advanced to next week. Tito Vilanova will be away from Barcelona from Monday to Friday."

Barca, crowned Spanish champion for the fourth time in five years last weekend, plays host to Real Valladolid before completing its season against Espanyol and Malaga.

Diego Costa's first-half equaliser cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo's early header at the Bernabeu, before Miranda's extra-time goal delivered Atletico's first victory over Real for 14 years.

Madrid's frustration told and, with Mourinho having been sent from the technical area during normal time, Ronaldo saw red in the 114th minute for kicking out at Atletico captain Gabi - who was himself dismissed in the frantic final minutes for a second bookable offence.

The defeat rounded off a trophyless campaign for Real and Mourinho, disregarding the Spanish Supercopa, prompting the Portuguese to declare: "This is the worst season of my life."

Mourinho has been widely tipped to return to Chelsea but reiterated that he would not make any announcement about his future until he has a meeting with the club president Florentino Perez at the end of the season.

He said: "I have a contract here for three more years. I still haven't sat down with the president to talk about the future."

On rumours touting Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti as his potential replacement, he continued: "I think it's normal that they talk about Ancelotti. That's normal, if I go to Chelsea, or here or there... that's normal for people to talk abut that. We will make it official when me and the president sit down and decide what to do.

"That's the way it should be. There are still two games in the league to play. We have to play the league and respect the other teams we are playing - Real Sociedad and Osasuna - who still have objectives, like qualifying for the Champions League and avoiding relegation."

If Mourinho does leave the Spanish capital, he will have won just three trophies in his three-year tenure at the club: the 2011 Copa del Rey, the 2011/12 Primera Division title and the Spanish Supercopa - traditional season curtain raiser - this term.

He defended his record in his first two years in charge of Los Blancos, but admitted he had "failed" this year.

"I failed this season," he said. "I think it's normal in my first season that we won the cup - a cup the club had not won in 20 years - reached the semi-final of the Champions League, fought virtually to the end for a league that they (Barcelona) won year after year... the team everyone said was the best in the world.

"My second season was not a failure because we won the league against the best team in the world and got to the Champions League semi-final and lost on penalties, and I'm sorry, because I can't take penalties.

"The third season is a failure. This is the worst season of my life. For many coaches it would be good, but for me it's terrible. I had never finished a season without one of the important trophies. The Supercopa does not satisfy me."

Mourinho also praised goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois - on loan at Atletico from Chelsea - who made two outstanding saves in extra time to deny Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil, but also cursed his team's luck, as Ronaldo, Ozil and Karim Benzema all hit the woodwork, while Ozil had a shot blocked on the line by Atletico defender Juanfran.

"He is a fantastic young goalkeeper with great potential and I think his club has to decide his future and that club is Chelsea," he said.

"He made fantastic saves but they were not just fantastic saves - Saint Mary must have been behind the goal. Three shots off the post is too much."

Mourinho refusd to comment on the second-half incident which saw him sent to the stands.

The second season of a two-year suspension on Malaga competing in European competition has been lifted by UEFA after the Spanish club proved it has no outstanding debts to other clubs, employees or tax authorities.

Malaga reached the quarter-finals in its first season in the UEFA Champions League but is currently banned from competing in Europe next season because UEFA in December found it was in breach of new financial fair play rules.

It was given until March 31 to show it had cleared those overdue debts to avoid being banned for another season.

However, the club confirmed on that UEFA had now accepted it has complied with those requirements.

"Malaga football club has today received communication from UEFA that its financial control committee has confirmed that, after an analysis of the situation of the Martiricos club on 31 March, 2013, it leaves without effect the second conditional year of suspension against the Andalusian club," a statement read on the club's website.

The club is also appealing the initial decision taken by UEFA.

It is taking that case to the Court of Arbitration (CAS) for Sport in a bid to get the entire ban overturned.

Malaga has been awarded a licence from the Spanish Football Federation to play in Europe next season should that appeal be successful.

"This decision and the awarding of the licence ratify what the club already expressed when our compliance was put in doubt," said Chief Executive Officer Vicente Casado.

"We have worked and we will continue to do so because we are very optimistic looking to the future."

A decision from the CAS is expected to be announced on June 4.

Take a look at how his fellow professionals and others greeted the news.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter: "David Beckham, one of the most iconic figures in global football is retiring from playing. It's the end of a chapter of an amazing story. David grew up as a football-loving child & achieved his dreams, and unquestionably inspired millions of boys & girls to try & do the same. Whatever he chooses to do next I'm sure he'll approach with the same dedication & good grace he displayed the last 21 years. Good Luck!"

Former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville: "David Beckham = Amazing Career. He just loved playing football. Congratulations and a pleasure to be a team mate!"

West Ham striker Carlton Cole: "So Becks Retires at the end of the season, he's had an illustrious career winning many honours on the way! #legend."

Former Newcastle United defender Warren Barton: "Well done Sir David good luck.!! Top player.. Great man.!!"

Former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris: "He probably got more women interested in football than any other player too..can't quite put my finger on why though??", and "What people forget about that Greece game (because of his great last minute free kick) was what a top top performance Becks gave for 90+mins."

West Brom defender Steven Reid: "Feel sorry for anybody else retiring this summer #Fergie #Becks #Scholes .. Follow them 3."

Newcastle United and former Manchester United defender Danny Simpson: "David Beckham retiring. What a player, what a guy. No one in the game will ever do what he's done. The guy's a 1 off."

Leyton Orient FC: "Already had a few phone calls but to clear things up Beckham's last game is against FC Lorient not us."

Piers Morgan: "Calm down, everyone. Beckham retired five years ago,", and "Beckham's a great guy, but he's not even the best United legend to retire this week. #Scholes."

Former England rugby union international Will Greenwood: "Beckham. That goal from inside his half. Arms aloft. Smiling. Iconic moment. The first time I saw the great man."

Here is what people in the football world have had to say about the former England captain over the years.

"David impresses by his example on the field. He never stops running, he plays with supreme confidence, he always tries his hardest and he scores important goals." Former manager at Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson

"He was never a problem until he got married. He used to go into work with the academy coaches at night time, he was a fantastic young lad. Getting married into that entertainment scene was a difficult thing - from that moment, his life was never going to be the same. He is such a big celebrity, football is only a small part." Ferguson in 2007 speaking about Beckham's marriage to then pop star Victoria

"He's a winner. There's no doubt about that, and it's stating the obvious to say that he's a tremendous talent." Former England manager Kevin Keegan

"He is such a great player that he has the capabilities to let no one affect his game." Former England coach Steve McClaren

"He is a tremendous player and he has contributed so much to the success of Manchester United. He is a world-class performer, so any team would want to accommodate him." Former Real Madrid team-mate Zinedine Zidane

"He has a quality, a big quality; he has a touch that I haven't seen many players have. And he is very elegant when he plays." Paris St Germain team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic

"When we talk about great players, it's not easy to get a player who is a great on the field and an example off the field. You (England) have a lot of good players, excellent players. But I look at his behaviour; I look at his performance on the field. That is the example for the youngsters." Pele

"He makes our football easier and the strikers can take advantage of that. You also have to recognise the effort he puts into everything that he does," Raul told the UEFA magazine."That is what makes him such a key part and allows him to control the midfield." Raul, Spain great and former team-mate at Real Madrid.

"Beckham is a great champion. All the players here are delighted by the impact David has made."He has already demonstrated he's one of the best players in the world." Paolo Maldini, his former captain at AC Milan.

"I think Beckham was one of the best interpreters of the modern game and that he was a worthy heir of my shirt." Manchester United legend Eric Cantona

"If you've got the caps you deserve to be up there. Nobody gave Becks those caps for fun - it hasn't been an easy ride to get where he is now, he's earned it. He's a superstar on and off the field and a top player as well." Rio Ferdinand, who played with Beckham at United and England.

"He is a player that doesn't only kick a ball perfectly, he is the first player in the side that goes to pressure his opponents in their side of the pitch - he was an excellent pressing player. That's what we had the chance to see from him when he played in England. He is a player that has had success playing football, not just selling clothes." Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano

Just over 20 years, 19 trophies and 100-plus England caps later, the 38-year-old has decided to call time on his playing days.

Reports emerged last week that a deal had already been agreed between the newly-promoted French club and Los Rojiblancos, but, speaking at a press conference the day before the Copa del Rey final between Atletico and Real Madrid, the Colombian denied signing any deal.

"I know nothing, in these last few weeks of the season the only thing I am focusing on is Atletico Madrid," he said.

"If everything the media said was right, I would have already signed for half of Europe. They have said I am going to Manchester United, to Chelsea, to Real Madrid. I don't know what to think anymore. The only thing that is true is that I still have a contract with Atletico Madrid."

Atletico is hoping to finally beat Real for the first time in 14 years. Although Atletico has had an extraordinary season and are guaranteed to finish third in the Primera Division, it has been another disappointing year with respect to matches against their neighbours, losing both derbies in the league.

Atletico captain Gabi insisted that his side's record against Madrid would have no bearing on his team's chances.

"We are tired of hearing that we haven't beaten Madrid for so long. It's the same year after year. In reality, statistics mean nothing," he said.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone said that winning the final was his team's final challenge after a season in which they have exceeded all expectations.

"We have had a very good season and we have achieved our first objective, which was to get into the top three and qualify for the Champions League, but winning trophies is what matters most," he said.

The Argentinian acknowledged Madrid were a superior team to his own, but stressed his players would not be daunted at being the second favourite.

"I admit that they are better than us, without a doubt, but in a one-off game, everything is different, everything is possible," he said.

"I hope we can gave people hope that with hard work, humility, a team with our limitations can compete with Real Madrid and be successful."

Simeone also revealed the starting line-up he intends to play in the final, which would be almost identical to the team that lost 2-1 to Madrid on 27 April, except with Arda Turan starting ahead of Raul Garcia.

The 25-year-old has scored five goals in 25 Primera Division matches this season, and seven in 40 in all competitions, as Barca regained the league title but was hammered in the Champions League semi-final by Bayern Munich.

Pedro told Marca: "I wish I could contribute more, but I'm happy with the opportunities I've had and want to keep improving.

"I try to work and help my team-mates. This year I may have contributed less and I hope the next season is better."

With thoughts turning to the northern summer transfer window and Barca linked with Brazil playmaker Neymar, Pedro acknowledges his future at the Nou Camp is uncertain.

But he said: "There are always changes and many players have left, but my clear intention is to stay here. I have to wait to see if the club decides to sell me, but I am calm.

"(Neymar) is a great player and the club want the best in the world. His arrival would be a great joy because we would be very strong.

"It would mean more competition in attack but it suits me well personally because I'm still learning. Hopefully he can come."

Bayern hammered seven goals past the Catalan club for no reply but Messi insists that loss is no reason to change the club's attacking philosophy.

"It gets ever more difficult and you cannot win everything every year," Messi told Mexican broadcaster Azteca.

"We have been playing the same way for a long time and all the coaches' years, all the teams are looking at you and studying how we are not winning, at least in Europe.

"But we cannot go crazy over what happened this year.

"We cannot change Barcelona's style, which is what has always characterised this team. You have to keep calm and look to the year ahead," said Messi, whose side have after all wrested the Spanish league title back from Real Madrid.

Messi said the forced absences of coach Tito Vilanova, who replaced the hugely successful 'Pep' Guardiola but had to have several bouts of cancer treatment in the United States, had made a difference.

"When he was away we noticed the difference. It was not that the people around him were not up to scratch just that the image of the head coach was missing .. obviously things weren't the same."

Yet with the Spanish league crown back at the Nou Camp, Messi concluded: "A season is very long and to be able to end it celebrating is wonderful."

Messi initially suffered the injury in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain and he has been in and out of the team ever since.

He came off the bench to inspire a Barcelona win against PSG in the Nou Camp return but looked a shadow of his brilliant best as the Spanish champion was hammered 4-0 in the first leg of its semi-final meeting with Bayern Munich.

He failed to make an appearance as Bayern duly completed a 7-0 aggregate win in Catalonia.

Messi has undergone a scan with a statement from the club revealing the results.

It read: "Tests this Tuesday morning showed that Leo Messi has an elongation in the femoral biceps in his right leg. The expected absence is two to three weeks.

"How the injury evolves will determine the player's availability for future games."

Messi started Sunday's win at Atletico Madrid but limped off after 67 minutes having experienced further problems with the injury.

Barca's final game of the Primera Division season - it has already wrapped up the title - is scheduled for 1 June at home to Malaga.

It is unlikely Messi will be risked by boss Tito Vilanova, especially as the 25-year-old will be needed by Argentina for its World Cup qualifying doubleheader against Colombia and Ecuador in June.

Messi has enjoyed another wonderful season in Spain, scoring 46 league goals - four short of the record-breaking tally of 50 he notched in 2011-12.

PSG secured its first Ligue 1 title in 19 years with a 1-0 win over Lyon and Al-Khelaifi was keen to emphasise that Ancelotti should stay at the Parc des Princes after a season in which his future has been the subject of constant speculation.

In an interview with L'Equipe, Al-Khelaifi said: "If Carlo Ancelotti left Paris, it would be a problem."

The Qatari businessman claimed Real Madrid, which is expected to require a replacement for Jose Mourinho this northern summer, had contacted him last week to ask about Ancelotti but was rebuffed.

"A few days ago, the general manager of Real Madrid (Jose Angel Sanchez) contacted me to talk to (Ancelotti).

"Very quickly, I told them: 'If you want to have Carlo, you need to know that he has a year left on his contract, so please respect the contract.

"We respect all clubs, we expect the same in return. Today we do not have the same stature as Real Madrid, but we do deserve the same respect'.

"He apologised and told me he had thought Ancelotti's contract was expiring but I told him that was wrong and that Carlo has another year with us. He told me they would take that into account."

Former AC Milan and Chelsea boss Ancelotti has been in charge of PSG since December 2011. He took over with PSG in first place but could only manage second place in his first season in charge, before winning the title at the second attempt.

He also took it to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League where it fell to Barcelona on the away goals rule, having drawn both legs of the tie.

Speculation about Ancelotti's future has never gone away however, something Al-Khelaifi now wants to end.

"We want to keep Carlo," he said. "Everyone loves it here, the players, the fans, myself, I love it. I have supported him since the day he arrived and I will support him until his last day here. I am very optimistic (he will stay)."

Such thoughts were echoed by striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who pledged his own future to PSG and called on the club to retain Ancelotti.

"He did a fantastic job this year," he said. "This is a very good coach who teaches us a lot.

"He has advanced us further during a season that has not been easy. We lost Nick Broad (the club's performance manager, killed in a car accident) in January, do not forget that.

"It was a very difficult time for the team, for everyone. It was tough mentally, he was very important to us. This victory is for him. To win after all we've been through, it's even harder."

Addressing questions about his own future, Ibrahimovic said: "I'm very happy here. My start here in Paris has been perfect. I could not ask for more.

"Now I'll do my best to defend the title. I have a two-year contract. I am a professional and I respect the contracts."

After the match, Ancelotti insisted his team was a worthy champion and reflected on a job well done throughout the season.

"We have fulfilled the goal of winning Ligue 1 and going far in the Champions League," he said.

"The team did a good job. They were very professional, even the replacements.

"This is a title that has the same place in my heart as all the others I've earned. These are all great memories. I'm very happy."

PSG celebrated in Lyon before returning to the capital, but it made the journey without sporting director Leonardo, who was taken to hospital as a precaution after complaining of feeling ill shortly before the club plane was due to leave.

The 19-year-old is to sign a new deal which ties him to the Primera Division champion until 30 June, 2017, the club announced. His new buy-out clause is 35 million euros ($45.63 million).

Deulofeu has been tipped as the next player to emerge from Barca's hugely successful La Masia academy and make an impression in the first team.

He has made 35 appearances for the Catalan side this season, 31 for the 'B' team and four for the senior side, and scored 18 goals.

The Catalan giant was crowned Spanish champion for the fourth time in five years after nearest challengers Real Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw at Barca's local rivals Espanyol on Saturday night.

Barca had long been overwhelming favourites to claim the title, not least in January when it was 11 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid and a massive 18 ahead of biggest rivals and defending champion Real in third.

However, Jose Mourinho's men had refused to give up its crown without a fight and a run of 12 wins and a draw from 13 matches heading into this weekend's fixtures meant Barca's title celebrations had been kept on ice.

Madrid could not keep up its challenge any longer though, and Barca's 22nd Primera Division success has now been secured.

Speaking after his side's 2-1 victory at Atletico Madrid on Sunday night, Vilanova said: "We've been the best team in the league, without doubt."

Barca started the season on fire, winning 18 of its first 19 matches while drawing the other, and Vilanova admits that was decisive.

"We knew that we had to pick up points from the start of the season because the big teams usually lose some in the first few weeks," he said.

"We started well and this gave us a good advantage.

"After, when everybody had already given the title up as won, we've been strong mentally to cope with the pressure of a Real Madrid who have had a great second half of the season."

Vilanova, who replaced record-breaking coach Pep Guardiola last summer, also feels it has been a good campaign despite the fact Barca was knocked out of the Champions League and Copa del Rey at the semi-final stages.

"To regain the title just a year after failing to do is fantastic," he was quoted as saying by his club's website.

"A season in which you win the league is always good. We're disappointed we haven't been able to do better in the semi-finals of the Champions League."

Looking ahead, Vilanova said: "Next season will be more difficult still but we will try to be right there once again."

It has been reported that the Chilean has been lined up to succeed City manager Roberto Mancini, whose position at the Etihad Stadium has come under the spotlight after a hugely disappointing season.

According to reports, Mancini, whose team lost the FA Cup final to Wigan Athletic at the weekend, could even be sacked before the Blues take on Reading on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning AEST).

However, Pellegrini insists he has no deal in place with any club for next season and is currently focused only on trying to help Malaga secure a Europa League place.

"I deny here and now being the new coach of Manchester City, I haven't signed any agreement with anybody," Pellegrini told reporters after Malaga's goalless Primera Division draw with Sevilla in quotes reported on his club's official website.

"I've been fortunate enough, and very proud, that every year the big clubs have shown an interest in me.

"I have an agreement with Malaga not to talk to anyone and nothing has been agreed with any other club.

"I hope in the coming weeks that things will become a little clearer what is going to be the future here at this club."

Malaga has struggled with form since its heartbreaking Champions League quarter-final defeat by Borussia Dortmund, winning two of six Primera Division matches while losing three.

Despite that, Malaga is still sixth in the league standings and will be hoping to stay there over the final two games of the season.

Even if they do finish in sixth though it may not be playing in continental competition next season with a one-year ban from European football hanging over them. UEFA handed out the punishment in December due to the Spanish club's outstanding debts, but the club is hoping for a reprieve.

The former Real Madrid and Villarreal coach added of speculation about his future: "There are a lot of rumours.

"The coaching team and players are focused on qualifying the team for Europe. Overcoming the trauma of being knocked out of the Champions League wasn't easy, but we're still hoping to qualify for the Europa League."

The Catalan club didn't even need to set foot on the pitch to seal the title as Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Espanyol a day earlier meant Barca had already been crowned champion before its 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid.

Despite a 7-0 aggregate thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, Vilanova said his side was somewhat unfortunate in Europe this season.

"It has been a good season. The shame has been that we couldn't compete better in the Champions League," Vilanova said.

"Next season it will be even more difficult because to be in the semi-finals seven years running is very complicated, but the evaluation of the season is good because in the league we have had a great season.

"In the Champions League we were not fortunate and the referees haven't helped us a lot."

Vilanova missed three months of the campaign as he had to travel to New York for cancer treatment on a salivary gland and he admitted he wishes he could have been with the squad throughout the whole season.

"I would have liked to have been closer to the players to push them more, but this team doesn't stop motivating itself and we have to value this," he said.

"We are the best team in the league by a distance and there is no doubt about that."

One of the major reasons for Barca's stumble towards the end of the campaign, particularly in Europe, has been a hamstring injury to Lionel Messi and the Argentine's troubles continued against Atletico Madrid as he had to leave the field injured after Vilanova had made all his substitutions, leaving his side down to 10 men for the final 20 minutes.

"He has come off because of pain in the area that the problems have dragged on. He will have tests tomorrow," Vilanova said.

"He had been training well and we thought he could play without any problems, but it was better not to force it because we didn't need to."

Defender Dani Alves echoed his manager's opinion about Barca's merits as champion.

"We are very happy, it has taken a long time but we have it. We need to celebrate it and give it the importance it deserves," Alves said.

"We have won it four years in five, which is a good average. We have returned to the throne and we have to be happy."

Alves even touched upon the possibility of Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho leaving at the end of the season, saying his absence would be felt.

"We will miss him. The league will miss him because he is a great competitor. I haven't fought with him, we are simply just two winners.

"He is one of the most ambitious coaches in the competition and he adds spice. The journalists are going to miss him more than us."

Barca was confirmed as champion the previous day when Real Madrid could only draw at Espanyol but initially looked set to mark the occasion with defeat as it trailed to Radamel Falcao's opener when Lionel Messi limped off on 67 minutes.

But by the time its talisman had reappeared on the touchline, changed and showered, Barca had snatched an away victory.

Alexis Sanchez equalised on 72 minutes, after a one-two with Cesc Fabregas, before Gabi awkwardly turned a David Villa shot into his own net nine minutes from the end.

The final whistle drew some half-hearted title celebrations from the Barca players in front of the travelling support in Madrid.

Earlier in the day, Valencia gave its UEFA Champions League ambitions a major boost by producing a convincing 4-0 win at Rayo Vallecano.

Roberto Soldado scored twice before the break, while Andres Guardado and Nelson Valdez completed the rout in the second half.

The result was Valencia's second consecutive 4-0 victory and means Ernesto Valverde's side temporarily moves one point ahead of Real Sociedad, which hosts Granada on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEST).

Malaga and Sevilla both passed up opportunities to gain ground in their respective campaigns to qualify for Europe by playing out a goalless draw at La Rosaleda.

The two sides were evenly matched and although the visitor created marginally the better chances, a draw was not an unfair result in the end.

The result all put paid to Malaga's already slim hopes of finishing in the top four as it is five points behind Valencia with one game less to play.

Real Betis boosted its European hopes after ending a four-match winless run with a 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Celta Vigo.

Ruben Castro's goal midway through the second half decided things in Betis' favour as it kept the heat up on stuttering Malaga in sixth spot.

Barca became champion for the fourth time in five years without kicking a ball as defending champion Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at Espanyol, Barca's city rival, meant it could not catch Vilanova's men.

It has been a difficult first season in charge for Vilanova, who had to undergo surgery in December after being diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland for the second time, while Abidal returned to action in April after having a liver transplant because of a tumour.

Alves posted a picture of the pair on Twitter and wrote: "Congratulations to all colleagues for the championship, especially those in the photo! This is for you Tito and Abi."

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas was happy to claim his first Liga title with Barca after his move from Arsenal in 2011.

He wrote: "Today is a great day, the result of a brilliant season! I am really happy I can celebrate my first Liga title! #ForcaBarca #LigaBBVA"

Birthday boy Andres Iniesta joined in the celebrations on Facebook.

The midfielder posted a picture of himself with a cake to celebrate his 29th birthday, which fell on the same day.

He wrote: "The best gift, turned 29 and won the league... The reward for the work of the whole year!!"

Holder Madrid needed a victory at the home of Barca's city rival to prevent Tito Vilanova's side from taking its title.

But it was disjointed and off the pace in the first half which was dominated by Espanyol, which was unfortunate to only have a one-goal lead courtesy of Christian Stuani's 23rd-minute strike.

Hector Moreno incorrectly had a goal disallowed as Real appeared to have one eye on next week's Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid, with key men including Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench.

The second-half introduction of Ronaldo was followed moments later by Gonzalo Higuain's 58th-minute equaliser but Madrid could not find a winner and the title went to Barca.

"First of all I want to congratulate Barcelona, their coaches, their players, their managers and their fans," Mourinho told www.realmadrid.com. "They have just won the league title, which was ours until now, and I think the least we can do is congratulate them.

"Last season we won and wanted, justifiably, to speak about a great league campaign and I think it makes sense at this point is to congratulate the champion. You should give the champions the importance they deserve."

Mourinho stood by Pepe's continued absence from the team.

The defender was in the stands to watch the game against Espanyol having recently backed Iker Casillas in his row with Mourinho, who has favoured Diego Lopez over the Spain number one of late.

Mourinho said: "It was my decision and that's it. I'm the coach. I don't have to justify anything.

"From the first to the last day I'll always be the one to decide. Sometimes I can share the reasons for my decisions and sometimes not, I'll take that option.

"On Friday you'll see who plays and it will always be my decision and responsibility."

Pepe could yet find himself in contention to play in the cup final as Raphael Varane, the young centre-back who has taken his place in the team, picked up a knee injury against Espanyol and looks set to miss the game.

Mourinho said: "I don't want to second guess what the medical services have to say but at this point it looks like there is a certain degree of gravity, fairly serious let's say and it is impossible that he will play the cup final or the two or three matches left until the end of the season.

"We have alternatives. It is a position in which we have people who are playing well and that's good.

"We are obviously sorry that he cannot play in match that everyone wants to play, but there's no need to make a drama about it because we have solutions."

Xabi Alonso, who replaced Varane in the first half, turned his attention to the Copa del Rey final.

"The aim now is the cup and we have fight for the title that we have left to play for," he said. "There are six days to prepare and that's what we are thinking about.

"We are very motivated, eager to play a great match and lift the trophy in our stadium, albeit on neutral soil."

Holder Madrid needed a victory at the home of Barca's city rival to prevent Tito Vilanova's side from taking its title, but it was held to a 1-1 draw.

The result leaves Barca seven points clear at the summit ahead of its trip to Atletico Madrid on Sunday evening (Monday morning AEST), with Jose Mourinho's side now only having two league games left this season.

This is the fourth time in the last five years that Barca has been crowned Spanish champion and the 22nd time in its history - 10 behind arch-rival Madrid.

It is also the first trophy Barca has won under Vilanova, having lost to Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa at the start of the season and suffered semi-final defeats in the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey to Bayern Munich and Madrid, respectively.

Vilanova, who this week returned to New York for follow-up tests having spent two months in America earlier this year undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment for cancer, was promoted from assistant to head coach after Pep Guardiola's departure last northern summer.

It was win or bust for Madrid with only a victory sufficient to keep the title race alive for 24 hours at least.

Given Mourinho's side came into the match with nine wins and a draw in its last 10 games, anything other than three points for Real seemed unlikely.

However, it was disjointed and off the pace in the first half which was dominated by Espanyol, which was unfortunate to only have a one-goal lead courtesy of Christian Stuani's 23rd-minute strike.

Hector Moreno incorrectly had a goal disallowed as Real appeared to have one eye on next week's Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid.

However, the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo was followed moments later by Gonzalo Higuain's 58th-minute equaliser.

Espanyol was reduced to 10 men in injury-time when Victor Sanchez was given his second yellow card after following through on Higuain but Ronaldo sent the resulting free-kick high and wide.

It was a much-improved second-half performance from Madrid but it was not enough and Barcelona wrested back the title without even playing.

All the day's other games had implications at the other end of the table.

Athletic Bilbao took a giant step towards sealing its Primera Division status after overcoming nine-man Real Mallorca 2-1 at San Mames.

Aritz Aduriz gave the host an early lead but then missed a penalty after Andreu Fontas was sent off on 25 minutes.

Fernando Llorente doubled the advantage late in the second half but Mallorca forward Giovani dos Santos made for an exciting finish by netting a superb goal two minutes later.

However, Mallorca's hopes of snatching a late equaliser were struck a blow in injury-time when Ximo Navarro was also sent off for a second booking and Athletic was able to hold on.

Alejandro Arribas struck a second-half winner to earn Osasuna a potentially priceless 1-0 victory against Getafe in its fight to avoid the drop.

Arribas netted 16 minutes from time as Osasuna ended a five-match winless streak with a deserved triumph that moves it four points above third-bottom Deportivo La Coruna, which lost 1-0 at Real Valladolid.

Valladolid guaranteed survival for another season thanks to Javi Guerra's goal three minutes into the second half, taking his team onto 43 points, 11 ahead of the Galician side.

Midfielder Papakouli Diop was shown a straight red card in the 51st minute for a serious foul on Zaragoza striker Victor Rodriguez before Pedro Lopez was sent off for his second bookable offence in the second minute of injury-time.

The result is a much-needed point for Zaragoza, which moved two points clear of the relegation zone after the draw, although it did not live up to its success of the last two weeks which saw it claim wins over Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano.

Levante, meanwhile, remained in 12th place, well clear of the relegation zone with 42 points.

There were several chances for the visitor during the game but Levante's Nikos Karabelas had the first real opportunity of the match when he forced a save from Zaragoza goalkeeper Roberto with a close range header.

Rodriguez had a chance at the other end before the half-time whistle, but Keylor Navas made a comfortable save.

After the break, Levante was quickly reduced to 10 men when Diop was given his marching orders for a rash challenge on Rodriguez.

Zaragoza almost converted its one-man advantage straight away but for the efforts of Navas, who tipped Lozano Rodri's strike around the post in the 60th minute.

Levante then saw a fantastic chance ruined by Roberto, as the Zaragoza keeper made a brilliant save to deny Vicente Iborra's header from a Robert Acquafresca free-kick.

Navas then denied Adria Carmona's strike before he punched Jose Mari's effort clear and was again called into action in the 90th minute to deny Ruben Rochina's 25-yard free-kick.

Pedro Lopez was then sent off for a challenge on Rochina as the night ended in frustration for both sides.

Epic Pictures Group says it is financing and developing a Rocky-style film after buying the rights to dramatise a biography about the Barcelona star.

The Beverly Hills-based company says the film will depict Messi's rise from a modest background in Argentina and how he 'overcame his physical shortcomings to become one of the greatest players of all time'.

Co-founder Shaked Berenson hopes 'audiences will be uplifted by this incredible tale of fighting for your dreams'.

The title could be Barca's 24 hours earlier if Real Madrid fails to win at the Catalan club's city rival Espanyol.

Real kept the title race alive with a 6-2 win over Malaga in midweek but has now played a game more than its title rival as the fixture was brought forward from next weekend, when Real facse city rival Atletico in the final of the Copa del Rey.

But Busquets, who has been suffering with a groin complaint since January, is confident Barcelona can secure the championship under its own steam and will not have to rely on Espanyol doing it a favour.

Busquets told reporters: "We are ready to win the match on Sunday (Monday AEST).

"To win a title is always special and important and the league even more. It would be the fourth league title in five years and it would be spectacular."

Busquets added: "I have no doubt that if champions, we should be celebrated with a parade through the city and a party at the stadium."

Barcelona has been close to securing the title in the last couple of weeks and Busquets is aware of the pressure created by expectation.

He added: "We have felt like this for weeks. It's the best thing to do because we deserve (the title)."

Busquets has ruled out surgery to fix his groin problem, adding: "The injury is very complicated because some days are better than others."

Pedro and Victor Valdes should be available having returned to action after missing the last game against Real Betis.

Atletico Madrid ensured it would finish no lower than third, securing a spot in the Champions League, by winning 3-1 at Celta Vigo in midweek.

But Atletico can also secure second spot so a win against Barcelona would be high on its agenda as well.

Alonso has been linked with a move to Chelsea if, as has been widely speculated, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho quits the Spanish giants and returns to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

However, Spain international Alonso seems determined to prolong his four-year stay at Madrid for at least another campaign.

"Of course I'm going to be here next season," Alonso was quoted as saying by Marca after Madrid's eventful win over Malaga this morning (AEST).

Madrid had to beat Malaga or concede its Primera Division title to Barcelona, and Mourinho's men ensured its arch rivals would have to wait a little while longer to be crowned Spanish champions for a 22nd time as it earned a 6-2 victory at the Bernabeu.

The league may be beyond them, but Madrid still has plenty to play for this season with a Copa del Rey final against Atletico to look forward to next week and Alonso believes it is vital the side does not let its standards slip.

"It's important to maintain good feelings, with an important match coming up next week," the former Liverpool man said on his club's website.

"We prepared for this match [against Malaga] with the same seriousness as always and with the desire to do well.

"We're mentally prepared for the cup final, it will be a tough match. It's a clear objective, one we can achieve this year and nothing else can distract us. We all have to pull in the same direction."

Atletico's 3-1 win at Celta Vigo on Thursday morning (AEST) saw it move 14 points clear of fourth-placed Real Sociedad, which, with only four games left, can now no longer catch the capital club.

Not since it won the double in 1996 has Atletico finished in the top three of the top flight and, with a place in the Champions League proper now secure for next season, Simeone acknowledged the achievement by heaping praise on his players and backroom staff.

He said: "Today is a very important day for Atletico Madrid and I want to give thanks to all the people working at the club for helping to make this a reality.

"We looked around when we arrived back in December [2011], and we tried to get ourselves among the best in Europe and in the first six months we were close but it wasn't to be.

"We won the Europa League and the [Spanish] Supercopa and that's down to the work at all levels of the club.

"The players, I'll say again are amazing. [And] behind this team there are many people who are not seen, the helpers, the therapists, the doctor, the directors, everyone who works daily at the club and is an important part working for Atletico Madrid and I thank you all for contributing to this."

Mourinho is widely expected to leave Madrid at the end of the season in favour of a return to Chelsea, and the home fans appear to have turned on their coach since the Blancos were eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Champions League to Borussia Dortmund last week. The coach further divided fans' opinion with two fiery press conferences in the past week, in which he criticised club captain Iker Casillas and centre-back Pepe.

Mourinho's name was whistled when it was read out by the stadium announcer before the match with Malaga, but Karanka sought to play down the significance of the fans' ill-feeling towards his boss.

He said: "We don't pay much attention to that. In any case, the fans express their feelings while the coaching staff try to get the best performance out of the players. However, we respect their views."

Asked if Mourinho had given the half-time team talk, Karanka responded: "It was the same person that always gives it, the same guy that won the league last year."

Striker Gonzalo Higuain was also the victim of fan derision when he came on to replace Karim Benzema in the second half, but Karanka insisted the Argentinian still has the backing of the club.

"That's football. Last year the fans were shouting 'Pipa [Higuain's nickname] please stay' after we won the league in Bilbao. We know he's not in the best form, but he has to keep on working. He knows what the coaching staff think of him."

Pepe was left out of the squad four days after saying that Mourinho had "shown a lack of respect" to Casillas in an interview after the 4-3 win over Valladolid, but Karanka insisted the defender had been excluded for footballing reasons, pointing to the form of 19-year-old centre-back Raphael Varane, who has been first-choice centre-back alongside Sergio Ramos since March.

"The squads are decided on each player's performances and everyone can see how good Varane has been," he said, before delivering a broadside to assembled journalists.

"Before you used to rip Pepe apart, now you are his defenders. It surprises me," he said.

The assistant coach gave no clues about where his future or that of Mourinho lay, but said that he would remain at Madrid if the Portuguese did.

"I'll decide when the moment arrives. If Mourinho continues, I'll stay with him, if he doesn't, we'll have to see. But there is still time to carry on working and enjoying myself here."

Cristiano Ronaldo hit his 200th goal for Madrid in the demolition of Manuel Pellegrini's side, but also had a penalty saved by Willy Caballero.

The former Manchester United player, who has been linked with a return to his old club, has not signed a new contract with Real Madrid yet, with his current deal set to expire in 2015, but Karanka said he believed the forward should stay at the Bernabeu.

"Madrid is the ideal place for Cristiano, and he is phenomenal for Madrid," he said.

Raul Albiol, Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Angel Di Maria also got on the scoresheet for the Blancos, while Roque Santa Cruz and Vitorino Antunes replied for the visitor, which lost Sergio Sanchez and Martin Demichelis to red cards.

Mesut Ozil had to leave the pitch before the end of the game with an apparent ankle injury, but Karanka was unable to give details about the seriousness of the injury.

Had the Spanish powerhouse dropped a point, Barcelona would have lifted the league crown for a fourth time in five seasons.

Instead, a determined-looking Madrid went on a goal rampage, opening the scoring when Raul Albiol headed inside the far post from a corner launched by Luka Modric in the third minute.

Roque Santa Cruz equalised in the 15th minute when he bounced in a ball off the far post after a corner kicked by Francisco "Isco" Alarcon.

Sergio Sanchez conceded a penalty and earned a straight red card in the 21st minute when he held an advancing Cristiano Ronaldo in the penalty area.

The Portuguese international tried to convert the penalty but goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero kicked the Madrid forward's powerful shot clear with his outstretched left foot.

Ronaldo made up for the miss by adding the second goal five minutes later with a precise free kick from just outside the box - to mark his double century.

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Mesut Ozil raced up the left flank and, in a thrilling display of individual skill, sidestepped two defenders and shot past Caballero in the 34th.

Vitorino Antunes pulled one back for Malaga two minutes later by connecting sweetly with a ball just outside the penalty area and shooting over goalkeeper Diego Lopez's reach into the far post.

Caballero was substituted by Idriss Kameni in the 42nd.

Karim Benzema scored in first-half injury time by poking in a delicate sideways tap by Ronaldo inside the penalty area four minutes later.

Modric scored his third league goal of the season in the 63rd but coach Jose Mourinho looked concerned by Ozil's apparent ankle injury when the German international fell awkwardly and had to leave the field later in the second half.

Angel Di Maria scored Madrid's sixth in injury time.

Atletico Madrid reinforced its claim to a Champions League berth next season by brushing aside Celta Vigo 3-1. Atletico is third in the standings, and Celta remains in the relegation zone.

Diego Costa opened the scoring for Atletico in the 47th minute when he connected with Miranda's back-header.

Juan Francisco Torres extended the lead in the 66th by striking a powerful shot that defender Roberto Lago couldn't intercept.

Forward Augusto Fernandez pulled one back for Celta in the 83rd.

Radamel Falcao added the third in the 86th by beating three defenders to rifle a shot past Celta goalkeeper Javier Varas, and could have stretched Atletico's score in injury time but had his shot blocked by Varas.

The Argentina international, who sustained the injury in the UEFA Champions League clash at Paris Saint-Germain on April 2, took part in some of the squad training session, the club website reported.

Pedro Rodriguez, who missed last weekend's 4-2 Primera Division win over Real Betis due to gastroenteritis, was also back with the main group ahead of Barca's trip to Atletico Madrid on Sunday night (Monday AEST).

Goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who missed the Betis game with a foot problem, worked out separately from the rest of the squad, while defenders Eric Abidal and Carles Puyol also continued with their individual programmes.

Assistant coach Jordi Roura led the training session, with boss Tito Vilanova having returned to New York - where he spent two months earlier this year undergoing cancer treatment - for medical tests.

Barca will be crowned champion on Wednesday night if arch rival Real Madrid fails to beat Malaga. If Jose Mourinho's men triumph at the Bernabeu, and then again at Espanyol on Saturday (Sunday AEST), victory for Vilanova's side at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday would secure a fourth title in five years for the Catalan club.

Last Friday, Mourinho said his principal regret during his three-year stay in Madrid was not signing his current first-choice goalkeeper Diego Lopez at the end of his first season.

Pepe said this was not an adequate description and said Casillas was an 'institution in this club and in Spain'.

The player made the comment after Madrid's 4-3 win over Valladolid.

However, Mourinho believes Pepe's rebellion is purely due to the player losing his first-team place to 19-year-old France centre-back Raphael Varane.

"It is very easy to analyse the Pepe thing. His problem has a name, and it is Raphael Varane," Mourinho told a press conference.

"It is not easy for a 31-year-old man with experience to be run over by a 19-year-old kid.

"And he is a fantastic kid. I have had the courage to play a kid. The problem is simple, Pepe's life has changed.

"He was an indisputable starter and he no longer is.

"I perfectly understand the frustration of Pepe that has translated into the words that he has said.

"I don't have problems with him. I understand that it is not an easy situation but I have to try to be honest and I think that very few don't believe that the future of Real Madrid is Varane and Sergio Ramos."

The former Chelsea boss also again referred to his decision to continue with Lopez in goal ahead of Casillas since the latter returned from a hand injury over a month ago.

And Mourinho also hit back at Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta's claim that it was hard to understand Casillas's situation at Real Madrid.

"Iniesta ought to be worried about his team and why they have done what they have done in the (UEFA Champions League) semi-finals (losing 7-0 to Bayern Munich on aggregate) without (Lionel) Messi.

"My message so that you understand: I am a football coach, they contracted me to be a coach. A coach has responsibilities, among them to choose who plays.

"I don't toss a coin to decide who plays. I do it thinking, discussing, analysing, studying for many hours my decisions, watching games, trying to come to an agreement in my head.

"I like Diego Lopez as a goalkeeper more than Iker Casillas. I like a goalkeeper that plays well with his feet, that dominates the aerial space and is a phenomenon in goal."

The latest clashes between the 50-year-old Portuguese and members of the Real squad seem to suggest that Mourinho is almost certain to leave Los Blancos at the end of the season.

He made it clear that personal compensation would not be a stumbling block to him moving on.

"The fans think what you sell them. So that there are no doubts, I am going to earn in Real Madrid until the last day that I work. I do not want a euro more."

The home side came into the match on the back of three successive defeats in La Liga and things looked ominous when it fell behind to an early Carlos Vela goal.

But Pedro Leon and Abdel Barrada turned things in Getafe's favour before the interval and the scores stayed that way as Luis Garcia's men closed the gap on the top six to six points.

Sociedad is in the fourth and final Champions League spot but stays just two points ahead of Valencia with four rounds remaining.

It took only four minutes for the deadlock to be broken at Coliseum Alfonso Perez and that honour went to Sociedad.

Getafe's defence was still finding its feet when Antoine Griezmann whipped in a cross from the left wing which Vela powerfully headed home from close range.

The home side responded within minutes with a drive from Diego Castro which was fumbled away unconvincingly by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

And the Madrid-based club was level after 18 minutes when Pedro Leon's angled shot found the top-left corner.

Getafe was growing in confidence and Bravo was given another scare as the half-hour approached as he watched Angel Lafita's 20-yard strike whistle just wide of the right post.

Vela then threatened for Sociedad with a left-footed effort from close range which had Getafe goalkeeper Miguel Moya at full stretch to tip the ball away.

But it was the host which got its nose in front seven minutes before the interval thanks to Abdel, who was on hand to smash home the rebound after Bravo could only parry an initial drive from Lafita.

The second half offered few chances in comparison and 60 minutes were on the clock when Moya made the first save, getting safe hands to a free-kick from David Zurutuza.

Bravo did even better four minutes later in tipping over a set-piece from Pedro Leon, while the on-loan winger threatened again soon after with the Sociedad goalkeeper once more clearing the danger.

The visitor then ramped up the pressure in the closing stages in search of an equaliser but Carlos Martinez was wide with a header before Griezmann fired over from inside the area.

Perez said that the Spanish giant has to be 'united' as it looks to claim trophies both in football and basketball.

Perez's comments come amid a turbulent time on the football front, with Madrid having been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals last week and on the verge of surrendering its Primera Division title to arch-rival Barcelona.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who looks set to leave the club this northern summer, was also booed by home fans prior to last weekend's Primera Division win over Real Valladolid, while he came under fire from centre-back Pepe after the game for his comments about Iker Casillas.

Pepe said Mourinho needed to show Casillas more respect after his fellow Portuguese appeared to slight Madrid's long-serving goalkeeper with his comments about Diego Lopez on Friday, saying he wished he had bought the stopper sooner.

Madrid can still finish the season on a high though with a Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid to look forward to this month, while the club's basketball side is also chasing honours in the Euroleague, and Perez wants everyone to be pulling together.

He said: "Soon we will have two new challenges, the basketball Final four and the Copa del Rey final.

"We have to be united, give it everything and do our best for our supporters. Our players will do it."

Wounded from its Champions League semi-final humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich, Barca looked in danger of suffering another major setback as Ruben Perez put Betis 2-1 ahead just before the break at the Nou Camp.

If that scoreline had remained the same, then Barca could have seen its once-mighty lead at the top of the Primera Division cut to just five points by nearest challengers Real Madrid when the reigning champions faced Malaga in midweek.

However, three second-half goals, two of them by substitute Lionel Messi, saw Barca recover to claim a 4-2 win over Betis to move 11 points clear of Madrid again and, with only four rounds to go, that means if Jose Mourinho's men do not win on Wednesday, the title will be going to the Nou Camp.

Vilanova said: "Finding ourselves a goal down in the first minute wasn't easy, but the players showed their personality. And more so when the second went in before half-time. It was a question of not losing our heads."

Regarding the possibility of winning the title without even playing in midweek, Vilanova is doubtful.

He said: "Madrid are having a spectacular second half to the season and won't allow slips. We have to think that we still need to pick up two points because Madrid will win them all."

Vilanova also confirmed he would be returning to New York this week for follow-up tests having spent two months in America earlier this year undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment for cancer. He is set to be back in Barcelona on Thursday.

Looking further ahead, the Barca coach admits there is plenty to improve on following a testing season on and off the pitch with illnesses, injuries and some surprise results, including its 7-0 aggregate Champions League mauling by Bayern.

He said: "We always must try to improve. This year has taught us all a lot because of everything we experienced.

"It has been a difficult year because of the injuries and because the head coach wasn't here for two months. Next season things will be different, although that's normal because it's my first year."

The win takes Barcelona to just one win away from the title, but it had to work hard for its victory after twice going behind.

Pabon and Ruben Perez had put Betis ahead, with Alexis Sanchez and then David Villa replying.

The latter was replaced immediately by Messi after netting the equaliser and it proved to be a smart move by Tito Vilanova as the Argentinian made an instant impact.

First he curled a free-kick into the top corner before finishing a wonderful team goal with a tap in from close range to seal the points.

Mallorca remains bottom of the league after only managing a 1-1 draw with Levante at home.

Tomer Hemed gave Mallorca a dream start by scoring inside seven minutes, but Robert Acquafresca equalised just before half-time.

Despite dominating possession and having 17 attempts on goal, Mallorca was unable to get a winner, which could have a huge impact on its chances of avoiding relegation.

Real Zaragoza recorded back-to-back league wins for the first time this season as Rayo Vallecano succumbed meekly at La Romareda.

An Apono penalty got Zaragoza on its way in the 26th minute before Rodri doubled the advantage after 51 minutes.

Apono struck his second in injury-time as Zaragoza moved out of the bottom three.

Sevilla kept its dreams of UEFA Europa League football alive for next season with a convincing 3-0 win over Espanyol.

Joan Capdevila's own goal gave the home side an early lead with Andujar Coke and Alvaro Negredo scoring the second and third in the space of four minutes as Sevilla moved three points off Betis, which occupies the final European spot.

The German side's 7-0 aggregate win has led many to believe that, after a phenomenally successful period over the last five years, Barca is coming towards the end of an era and needs to bring in a number of new faces when the transfer market reopens at the end of the campaign.

However, with Barca still set to clinch its fourth league title in five years, Vilanova maintains that finding players that will fit into Barca's current style of play is the priority.

"The team doesn't need a lot of changes," he told a press conference.

"The Dream Team (the Barca team of the early 90s) also won the league and lost the European Cup final against a Milan team that was in top form. We need to think about things very hard. The team will be reinforced, as was planned.

"It will be difficult to find players that are able to play in the Barcelona system and we want to continue playing in the same way."

Vilanova did accept though that Bayern's physical dominance throughout the two ties had been key and that how Barca prepares physically for the latter stages of the season is something it needs to improve on after also running out of steam against Chelsea in last season's Champions League semi-finals.

"Last year we also arrived more worn down. There is a part that you cannot control which is injuries," he said.

"We need to look at how we get there. This year there were fewer muscular injuries than in previous years. We suffered more with breaks and joint injuries."

The most striking image of Barca's wear and tear throughout the season was Lionel Messi's presence on the bench for the second leg of the Bayern tie due to the recurrence of a hamstring injury suffered early last month.

However the Argentina star trained on Saturday, along with Sergio Busquets - who also missed the game last week - and both are in contention to face Real Betis on Sunday evening (Monday morning AEST).

"We will see how they train tomorrow and how the doctors evaluate them," added Vilanova.

"In these years Leo has had very few injuries and he is a player who feels comfortable when he is playing."

Mourinho caused a stir when he dropped the Spain captain before Christmas and the Portuguese has now come under the spotlight for comments he made regarding the long-serving custodian's goalkeeping rival Diego Lopez, which appeared to slight Casillas.

Mourinho said he wished he had signed Lopez, who has kept the 31-year-old Casillas on the sidelines with a string of impressive performances since joining Madrid earlier this year, after his first season in charge.

Asked about those comments after his side's 4-3 win over Real Valladolid at the Bernabeu, Pepe told Canal Plus: "There needs to be a little more respect to Iker.

"Iker is well loved. What the coach said was not the most appropriate. Iker is a player who is part of Madrid. He's an institution, both in this club and in Spain."

The Portugal international added in the mixed zone: "Iker is an important player for us. We have the final of the Copa del Rey ahead of us. We want to give a title to our fans and I think every player is important at this moment.

"There's no need to undervalue anybody and even less Iker, who is a symbol here in Madrid. We have to respect everything he's done.

"He's important for the club, for us and for the fans as well."

Mourinho looks increasingly likely to leave Madrid this northern summer, with former club Chelsea a possible destination, although the 50-year-old insisted on Friday he had not yet made a decision about where he will be plying his trade next season.

Asked about his countryman's future, Pepe admitted he too was in the dark.

The centre-back added: "We're calm. The coach has to resolve this with the club. We have to honour the shirt."

Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka, speaking in the post-match press conference in place of Mourinho, said of Pepe's comments: "I haven't heard what he said and if he said that, at no point has anyone been disrespected in the three years we've been working here and to disrespect one player would be to disrespect all 25 players.

"We have always chosen the 11 players we think will win. Status doesn't play a part here. A lack of respect would have been to not select a player that is playing well in favour of another. There is no lack of respect."

The host bounced back from its UEFA Champions League semi-final elimination at the hands of Borussia Dortmund to close the gap on leader Barcelona to eight points ahead of its home match with Real Betis on Sunday evening (Monday morning AEST).

There are four rounds of matches left after this weekend.

The build-up to the clash with Valladolid was dominated by the future of coach Jose Mourinho and his expected departure to Chelsea, but once the match started it was Ronaldo who again attracted much of the attention.

He helped the host recover from conceding an early goal to Oscar, making it 2-1 after Angel di Maria had levelled.

Javi Guerra equalised before the break for the visitor, but second-half efforts from Kaka and Ronaldo - who also struck the crossbar just before half-time with a stunning 30-yard free-kick - looked to have got Madrid home and dry.

Sastre's brilliant volley got Valladolid a late third, but there was no dramatic equaliser as Madrid ensured arch-rival Barca will have to wait a while longer to take its league crown.

In the day's other matches, third-placed Atletico Madrid was held to a goalless draw at lowly Deportivo La Coruna but got the point it needed to be assured of UEFA Champions League football next season, while Valencia boosted its hopes of a top-four finish with a 4-0 win over nine-man Osasuna.

Two goals late in the first half from Roberto Soldado and Ricardo Costa gave the host a comfortable lead and the second half became a formality after Alejandro Arribas was sent off and Ever Banega scored from the resulting free-kick.

David Timor then also saw red and Jonas added to the visitor's pain by scoring a penalty in injury-time.

Valencia's win saw it move to within two points of fourth-placed Real Sociedad, which plays Getafe on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEST), and lifted it three points above sixth-placed Malaga as Manuel Pellegrini's men slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Granada, Jude Ighalo scoring the only goal after 28 minutes.

The highly-rated forward slotted home seven minutes from time to cancel out Oscar De Marcos' opener for Athletic, which came against the run of play just before half-time.

The result sees Celta join 17th-placed Deportivo La Coruna on 31 points while Athletic, which hit the woodwork twice in the game but was also indebted to a superb display from goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz, remains seven points better off in 14th.

Athletic enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and came within a whisker of taking the lead in the 11th minute when Ander Iturraspe crashed a header against the bar from a Markel Susaeta corner.

However, after that Celta took the game by the scruff of the neck and only the brilliance of Iraizoz kept the host at bay.

The 32-year-old custodian's first serious involvement did not arrive until the 26th minute when he was tested by Aspas, but he was back in the action barely 60 seconds later to tip over an Alex Lopez free-kick.

Five minutes later the former Espanyol player did well to push Michael Krohn-Delhi's 20-yard drive around the post before producing more heroics in the 35th minute to parry a Lopez header.

Still Celta continued to push and Aspas drew another save from the overworked Iraizoz in the 38th minute while Augusto Fernandez came close four minutes before the break with a shot that just went wide.

Then, out of the blue, Athletic hit its opponent with a devastating sucker-punch as De Marcos put it ahead, the forward latching on to a pass from Aritz Aduriz before firing into the roof of the net.

That was a cruel blow for Celta but it came out in the second half with renewed determination - only to find Iraizoz blocking the path to goal again as he produced another fine save to keep out Fernandez.

Celta was indebted to its own custodian for keeping the deficit at one in the 52nd minute, though, as Javi Varas brilliantly denied Aduriz from close range.

Athletic looked to have weathered the Celta storm and almost made it 2-0 in the 65th minute with a Ibai Gomez shot that hit the bar.

However, with time slipping away, Celta finally managed to find a way past Iraizoz as Aspas fired home left-footed from 12 yards out to snatch a potentially valuable point.

"I have not taken any decision on whether I am going or not," said the Portuguese at a press conference ahead of Real's home clash with Valladolid on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

"I can confirm that there are still five matches left in the league and a Cup final to play and, after those games, I will sit down with the president and (the director general) Jose Angel (Sanchez) and we will speak about my future."

Mourinho had dropped a major hint as to his future in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Borussia Dortmund when he complained of being hated in Spain.

"I know that in England I am loved," he said at the time. "I am loved by the fans and the media who are fair with me. They criticise me and give me credit when I deserve it.

"I know I am loved by the clubs, especially one. In Spain it is different because people hate me," he added, referring to the media.

The former Chelsea boss, who is being heavily linked with a return to Stamford Bridge, responded to criticism of his reign at the Santiago Bernabeu, having so far failed to go beyond the semi-finals of the Champions League in three seasons.

"The record-breaking Liga season belongs to me. Only when a team comes along and collects more than 100 points and scores more than 121 goals will that be wiped out," he said, referring to last season's domestic title success.

However, in another hint at his poor relationship with goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas, Mourinho admitted failing to bring Diego Lopez to the club sooner was a source of disappointment to him.

Despite reports of his strained relationship with Casillas, Mourinho insists that he has always maintained a good relationship with his players.

"With my players - who all like to be treated equally and to have a coach who makes decisions with his head - I have never had a problem," he said.

"Problems exist when one player believes himself to be above everyone else."

Madrid seems certain to finish second in La Liga but a win against Valladolid at the Bernabeu will keep Barcelona waiting at least another week before it can wrap up the title.

It meets its neighbour Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on May 17.

The Germans' ruthless 3-0 win at the Camp Nou on Wednesday was Barca's worst European defeat - 7-0 on aggregate - and Iniesta admitted that after so much success in recent years, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Both legs have been hard games for the result and for the feelings," he told Barca TV.

"We have the feeling that they have been better than us. The reality hurts. It hurts us to have not been at the level required for the situation."

However, Barcelona could wrap up its fourth La Liga crown in five years if it beats Real Betis on Sunday night (Monday AEST) and Real Madrid loses to Valladolid 24 hours earlier.

"We have a game very soon and one thing doesn't take away from the other. The league is very close and, when there is such a strong blow, sometimes it is difficult to separate things.

"The other day, I said that a season can't be bad if you win the league."

Lionel Messi trained on Thursday morning as he continues his recuperation from the hamstring injury which forced him to sit out Wednesday's second-leg, but is not expected to be risked for the visit of Betis.

Sergio Busquets and Eric Abidal are also doubtful after missing the Bayern game through injury, but Jordi Alba returns from suspension.

Betis has its own injury problems as it looks to secure a Europa League place next season as Nacho and Jose Canas are suspended, with centre-backs Paulao and Damien Perquis doubtful.

Real Madrid had to get over Champions League disappointment of it own midweek as late goals weren't enough for it to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficit against Borussia Dortmund.

Ramos is likely to miss Real's clash with Valladolid, while Cristiano Ronaldo is also doubtful as he battles a thigh injury from the first-leg against Dortmund.

Valladolid boss Miroslav Djukic believes his side can learn from the teamwork shown by Bayern and Dortmund against the two Spanish giants over the past week.

"We were all waiting to see what Ronaldo or Messi were going to do in the Champions League ties but, in their opponents, we saw what it is to be a team," he told the club's website.

Meanwhile, the bottom five sides - Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Celta Vigo, Deportivo la Coruna and Granada - still separated by just four points, all play at home.

The Brazil wing-back's existing deal is due to expire in June 2014 but he is hoping to finalise an extension with the Catalan giant, whom he joined from Sevilla in 2010 for a fee believed to be around 9.5 million euros.

Adriano's representative has been in discussions with Barcelona and the 28-year-old feels a deal could be imminent.

"I've been on the periphery with regards my contract renewal up to now, in these eight meetings, because I've been focused on the Champions League," he told reporters.

"The club want what's best for both of us, my wish is to continue here. We are close to reaching an agreement and we hope it can be closed in the next few days."

There has been plenty of speculation about where Barcelona go now after its humiliating UEFA Champions League semi-final exit to Bayern Munich, with various players being linked with moves both in and out of the Nou Camp.

One of the prospective signings who has long been on Barca's radar is Santos ace Neymar and Adriano admits he would relish the chance to line up alongside his compatriot at the Blaugrana.

"I like him a lot, I would love to be able to play with him and for him to be part of our dressing room," he said.

"He's one of the most important players in Brazil right now. We'd like him to come next season, but these are things between him and the club, there are still things pending."

Depor boosted its survival hopes with a 4-0 victory over fellow struggler Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia on 13 April, with reports this week claiming the match is now under suspicion of match-fixing.

Levante issued a statement backing the players and promised to do everything possible to assist any inquiry into the allegations.

It read: "Following recent reports in the media about alleged irregularities in the league match of round 31, Levante-Deportivo La Coruna, the board of directors has decided the club will make itself available to all institutions that will be looking into these reports (Liga de Futbol Profesional and Asociacion de Futbolistas Espanoles) and also to the Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol and, of course, the ordinary courts, to help and assist in the collaborate with any investigation that is occurring.

"Levante UD is an institution that ensures fair play and is fighting for full transparency in the competition. The board believes in the professionalism and integrity of all the players of the first team, who have been involved in major sporting achievements of our history.

"The club appeals to his fans and all levantinismo to stick together, support the team and the organisation to strengthen its image and, above all, achieve the objective of staying in the Primera Division.

"The board of directors, in seeing out its responsibility, will take every appropriate action to defend the prestige of Levante UD."

The 42-year-old, who will take over the Bayern Munich reins from Jupp Heynckes at the end of the season, led Barca to 14 major trophies during a glorious four-year tenure which ended when he stepped down last northern summer.

Speaking at an event in Buenos Aires the day after Barca's Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern, Guardiola was asked whether he would go back to his boyhood club and was quoted as saying by local press: "That chapter is closed. It was a fantastic chapter, but, as in life, one is born, grows and evolves."

He reflected on his "happy" time with the club and the "wonderful relationship" he enjoyed with the players and staff, but reiterated that it was over.

"I was happy at Barcelona," he said. "I had a wonderful relationship with the people I worked with.

"I am very proud to have been part of Barcelona, but life goes on and we need to pursue other goals. I felt a very large peace with myself when I left. I did the best I could.

"Everything has a beginning and an end. And the end comes when you discover that it's enough."

He added: "When you makes the decision to leave a club, it's better than when the decision is taken for you."

Four-time reigning world player of the year Messi had struggled for fitness in the build-up and was an unused substitute at the Nou Camp for the 3-0 second-leg defeat to Bayern Munich, which sealed a crushing 7-0 aggregate loss.

Laudrup graced the Nou Camp as a player between 1989 and 1994, winning the European Cup in 1992, and feels the Catalan club has become too dependent on the Argentina forward.

"When they saw Messi was on the bench nobody thought it was possible to see a comeback (after a 4-0 first-leg defeat)," the Dane said.

"They have a great team but it's a little bit worrying that everything is related to the ability of Messi. Even if he is the best player in the world, it can be a problem."

Bayern advanced to a Wembley final against Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund, which saw off Real Madrid in the other semi-final, but Laudrup thinks it is too early to suggest the German teams' success heralds a new era for European club football.

He added: "I know this is the year of the German sides and there are a lot of questions.

"Is it the end of Spanish football dominating? Are English sides struggling? We have to look to next year for the answers.

"If Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are in the final in 12 months time and there are no English sides in the quarter-finals then we might have a new trend."

Barca's hope of winning a fourth European Cup crown in eight years was left in tatters as Bayern followed up its 4-0 semi-final first leg victory with a similarly impressive triumph at the Nou Camp to complete a 7-0 aggregate win.

Tito Vilanova's men will now hope to banish that painful memory as soon as they can and the Primera Division offers them the perfect chance to do just that.

Barca goes into this weekend's fixtures lying 11 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid with five games remaining, knowing a victory at home to Real Betis combined with a Madrid slip-up against Real Valladolid will win it the title.

Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta said: "The league is very close. The other day I said a season couldn't be a bad one if you win the league. Hopefully we can win it as soon as possible to once again have the feeling of happiness."

On Barca's Champions League exit, the Spain international added: "The reality hurts. It hurts us not to have been at the level we needed to be."

Barca could have won the league last weekend if results had gone its way, but it was held 2-2 at Athletic Bilbao while Madrid subsequently trimmed the gap between the pair by two points with a 2-1 derby win at Atletico.

Like Barca, Jose Mourinho's men are also having to cope with Champions League semi-final disappointment this week after being knocked out by Borussia Dortmund.

Madrid is also resigned to losing its league crown to its arch rival, but that does not mean it will be coasting through to the end of the season.

It still has the Copa del Rey final against Atletico to look forward to while in La Liga it wants to make Barca sweat as long as it can.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas said: "We need to try and get as many points as possible in the league, for the club and for the team. And then fight for the Copa del Rey, which will be a different final, nice, at the Bernabeu, and we need to try and win it for the fans, who deserve some joy."

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho caused a stir before Christmas when he dropped long-serving club captain Casillas in favour of little-known back-up keeper Antonio Adan.

Casillas then suffered a hand injury in January, leading to Madrid signing Diego Lopez as cover, and despite the return to full fitness of the Spain skipper, he has been unable to dislodge Lopez following a string of impressive performances by the former Villarreal custodian.

With Lopez having joined Madrid on a four-and-a-half year contract, Casillas faces a fight to reclaim his place in the side, but the 31-year-old insists he is not thinking of leaving the Bernabeu.

He said, after receiving an award from the City of Madrid on Thursday: "My future is at Real Madrid because I have a contract with them and because I've been there since I was nine, it's my life-long club and where I would like to be."

While Casillas is adamant he will be at Madrid next season, the future of Mourinho is much less certain with the Portuguese being closely linked with a move back to former club Chelsea.

Quizzed about Mourinho, Casillas said: "You'll have to ask him about that. I've come to collect an individual prize and what interests me is to make the Madrid fans happy, and as that can't be in the Champions League this season, then it needs to be in what's left, which is the Copa del Rey."

Madrid was knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund this week and could surrender its Primera Division title to Barcelona this weekend, but it has a Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid to look forward to still.

Casillas said of its European disappointment: "With regards to the collective, everything's been said. My teammates made their comments after the game.

"Now what we need to do is think about what's next, which is to try and get as many points as possible in the league, for the club and for the team. And then fight for the Copa del Rey, which will be a different final, nice, at the Bernabeu, and we need to try and win it for the fans, who deserve some joy."

Mourinho's future has been the subject of much speculation after a poor Primera Division campaign that sees it lie 11 points behind arch-rival Barcelona with five games remaining.

The Portuguese has consistently skirted the question regarding his future, but when asked if he would remain in the Spanish capital for next season, he replied: "Maybe not."

He added on ITV1: "I don't know but I want to be where people love me to be."

Amazingly, the ITV reporter cuts Mourinho short before he has a chance to elaborate on where his future lies.

Mourinho's comments will almost certainly put more than one Premier League club on alert.

Manchester City and Chelsea have both been mooted as possible destinations in the past for Mourinho who managed the Blues from June 2004 until September 2007.

The 50-year-old left west London in acrimonious circumstances after a falling out with owner Roman Abramovich although Mourinho remains Chelsea's most successful manager with two Premier League titles and three domestic cup wins.

Mourinho admitted in his post-match press conference: "I know in England I'm loved.

"I'm loved by the fans, I'm loved by the media that treats me in a fair way, criticising me but giving me credit when I deserve it.

"I know I'm loved by some clubs, especially one, and in Spain, the situation is a bit different because some people hate me.

"Many of you are in this room."

Mourinho, who has also coached at Porto and Inter Milan, added he will discuss his future at the end of the current campaign.

Madrid takes on city rival Atletico in the Copa del Rey final next month and Mourinho is focusing on closing the season on a high.

"I didn't make a decision because I have a contract. But more than a contract, because in football contracts you break it when people want to break, is the respect I have for the club and the respect I have for the president," he said.

"That's why I want to play the final, I want to finish the season, I want to try to win the final, I want to try to finish second and at the end of the season I want to sit in front of Florentino Perez - my president, my friend - and decide the best for me.

"I like the club, I like the president, I need to be honest and fair and at the end of the season I speak."

Depor's fantastic recent run - won four and drawn two in its last six games - has transformed it from relegation certainty to favourite to beat the drop and it took the lead in Seville through Riki.

But the host is still in with a shout of European qualification and levelled early in the second half through Jorge Molina.

Riki gave the visitor the ideal start when he put it ahead after seven minutes, taking Bruno Gama's pass and firing into the top corner from the right of the area.

Riki almost got a second three minutes later, but his shot from the edge of the area was parried by Adrian.

Bruno Gama then fired over the top as Depor kept on coming, but Betis also posed a threat.

Joel Campbell shot wide and then fired in an effort that was fumbled by goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia, who a minute later produced a fine save with his feet to deny Molina.

Depor went close again when Silvio fired wide from close range, but Aranzubia had to be alert shortly before the break to tip a Molina head from Benat Etxebarria's corner over the top.

Molina did not have to wait too much longer for his goal though, finding the corner from inside the area four minutes after the break.

Riki had an effort blocked as Depor looked to retake the lead, while the influential Molina headed over at the other end.

Pizzi went close to winning it for the visiting side 14 minutes from time, but his free-kick was tipped over by Adrian as the spoils were shared.

The ever-lethal Roberto Soldado put Valencia ahead midway through the first half, but Inigo Martinez's volleyed goal put Philippe Montanier's side back on level terms.

Goals from Chory Castro and Imanol Agirretxe late in the second half appeared to have sealed the win for the Basque side, before Jonas pulled one back for Valencia just as injury-time approached to set up a tense finish.

Agirretxe scored again to put the result beyond doubt and, with five games left, it has a five-point cushion over Valencia.

Malaga sits in between them and despite being banned from Europe, boosted its hopes of a top-four finish in the Primera Division with a narrow 2-1 victory over mid-table Getafe at La Rosaleda.

Goals either side of half-time by Roque Santa Cruz and Weligton put the host in control, before Juan Valera grabbed a consolation for Getafe with 15 minutes left.

Malaga - banned from the continent for next season over unpaid bills - headed into the game on the back of last weekend's thumping 5-1 defeat at Valencia but shrugged that off to take the points.

Sevilla look consigned to a mid-table finish after playing out a 1-1 draw at Valladolid.

Unai Emery's side went into the game knowing a win could have left it with an outside but fighting chance of making Europe next season.

But it left Jose Zorrilla with a point that leaves it off the pace - Alvaro Negredo's second-half penalty getting it a share of the spoils after Javi Guerra's opener.

At the bottom end of the table, Granada pulled itself clear of the relegation zone after holding out for a narrow victory, 1-0 at Espanyol.

A superb free-kick by Nolito was enough to see off Javier Aguirre's side, which was the better team throughout the match but was unable to take its chances.

Those two dropped points allied to Real Madrid's win at city rival Atletico means Tito Vilanova's side has seen its lead cut to 11 points with five games left, and must now try to get the job done at home to Real Betis next weekend.

Barca was out of sorts for an hour at San Mames and deservedly trailed to Markel Susaeta's first-half goal, but the introduction of substitute Lionel Messi swung the match as he scored a stunning equaliser and teed up another for Alexis Sanchez.

It looked like the points would go back to Barcelona and ramp up the pressure on Real, but instead Ander Herrera popped up to deny the visitor at the death.

Real Madrid came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at the Vicente Calderon.

Jose Mourinho's visitor produced an uninspiring performance and struggled for large parts of the game, but it made the most of its chances.

The potent Radamel Falcao gave Atletico the lead after four minutes but an own goal by Juanfran levelled things up a few minutes later.

Angel di Maria hit the winning goal midway through the second half as Real moved six points clear of Atleti in the battle to finish second.

Real Zaragoza hauled itself off the foot of the standings with a thrilling 3-2 win over fellow struggler Real Mallorca.

Tomer Hemed's early opener for Mallorca was cancelled out by Paco Montanes and Helder Postiga, but Mallorca looked to have nicked a point when Javier Arizmendi scored seven minutes from time.

However, in a thrilling finale, Ruben Rochina fired Zaragoza back in front before Arizmendi saw an effort ruled out for offside.

The result ended a run of 10 league matches without a win for Zaragoza but, more importantly, lifted it above its opponent which now props up the standings.

Celta Vigo moved out of the relegation zone after Augusto Fernandez's goal saw it to a 1-0 win away to Levante, the Argentinian heading home midway through the first half.

Three goals in six first-half minutes had promised a free-scoring match but after the early excitement there was precious little for the fans at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas.

Andrija Delibasic put the host ahead in the seventh minute but its lead was short-lived with Raoul Loe equalising a minute later before Alejandro Arribas gave the visitors a surprise lead.

Piti equalised 12 minutes into the second half but a point does little for Rayo as it leaves it four points behind sixth-placed Malaga, which occupies the final European spot.

Rayo made an ideal start as it took a seventh-minute lead with the first attack of the game.

Alhassane Bangoura's cross from the right found Delibasic in the six-yard box and he headed the ball down into the left-hand corner of the goal.

However, the host's joy was short-lived with the visitors equalising just 71 seconds later.

Alvaro Cejudo sent in an outswinging corner from the right which Loe attacked, heading high into the net.

The breathless start continued unabated and after having found itself a goal down, Osasuna found itself 2-1 up in the 13th minute.

Miguel De las Cuevas' shot was saved by Martinez Ruben and from the subsequent corner, David Timor found Arribas at the far post with the midfielder heading into the bottom corner.

After such an intense opening, it was naturally going to settle down with no clear opportunities created by either side in the remainder of the first half.

Piti fired wide for Rayo shortly after the resumption before Jose Carlos' shot from distance was comfortably held by Osasuna goalkeeper Andres Fernandez.

Rayo drew level in the 57th minute when Piti was found by Alejandro Dominguez and the striker slotted into the bottom left-hand corner.

Francisco Silva's shot was comfortably gathered by Ruben but there was precious little in attacking play as the clock ticked down.

Speaking to the media for the first time since returning to Spain from a 10-week stint in New York where he underwent treatment for cancer, an upbeat Vilanova said he "felt strong" and wanted to carry on working.

"I feel strong and, health permitting, I'm looking forward to continuing in the job," he said

"I feel well after all that I've been through. I didn't come back any earlier because there were some side effects.

"But I'm feeling better with every day and I was really looking forward to returning here."

Vilanova had chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the United States following surgery on his parotid gland in December.

The 44-year-old had suffered a relapse after first having a tumour removed from his throat in November 2011.

Assistant Jordi Roura and Aureli Altimira have looked after the first-team in his absence and Vilanova praised them for doing "an exemplary job".

"In any other place this situation of not having a manager would have been a big problem," he said.

And he never had any thoughts of stepping down.

"There were problems due to the distance. But in New York, my day-to-day life was generally good and I was able to keep in contact with the team thanks to new technologies," he added.

"If ever I get two days off, I don't know what to do. This job is not a burden to me and the doctors told me that the best thing I could do was to work."

Barcelona look set to go out of the UEFA Champions League after its 4-0 semi-final first-leg defeat to Bayern Munich, but can win back the Primera Division title from Real Madrid this weekend.

And Vilanova reckons his players deserve praise for how they have coped.

"The club's work-rate and commitment has been extraordinary, we should be pleased with these players for managing to hold their place in the league and reach the Champions League semi-finals for the sixth year running," he added.

On the Bayern tie, Vilanova said all was not lost.

"Bayern truly did come into the game on spectacular form and, although we didn't play badly, we weren't at our best," he said.

"But 4-0 was not a fair reflection. But we are Barca and it is our obligation to go out in front of our fans and show them what we are made of, to compete and try to win.

"We'll see what happens. We have to play confidently. I know it will be difficult, but I'm not throwing the towel in."

"I think it is unjust to talk about the end of an era," he told reporters in Barcelona, after his team's 4-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat by Bayern Munich.

"This team in the past five years has won two Champions Leagues, been to three more semi-finals, we are about to win a fourth league in five years, we have won Supercups and everything else, it has been a blessed cycle of success.

"That is many years winning and fighting for everything.

"If you analyse five years in one game against Munich it doesn't make any sense.

"For me, the end of an era is when years pass and you don't win titles.

"People need to have a lot of respect for this squad, manager and club in general. Evidently we need to improve but this is an evolution that the club has to have.

"It doesn't make sense to me to talk about the ending of an era."

A 4-0 lead from the first-leg has never been overturned in the Champions League but even if qualifying for the final now seems beyond Barca, Iniesta insists they still have to try to reclaim their pride in the second-leg at the Camp Nou on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).

"They (Bayern) are in a very good moment right now and we need to recognise their superiority.

"It hurts to not have been able to live with the demands that Bayern imposed on us but we need to appeal to our faith a little for the return-leg.

"If we are going to go out, we need to do it giving everything."

Before it even faces the Bundesliga winner, Barcelona could be crowned domestic champion this weekend should results go its way.

A win away at Athletic Bilbao combined with victory for Atletico over Real in the Madrid derby will mathematically seal the title.

Iniesta believes the merit in winning the league has been lost in the furore over the Champions League in recent weeks.

"We need to see what happens on Saturday (Sunday AEST). This league has been one of the most difficult in recent years for many reasons.

"For us to have been able to achieve it after losing it last season is a very important step looking forward to next year.

"The league is the most important but obviously the Champions League is the most prestigious.

"If we are saying that every year you don't win the Champions League it is a bad year then I think we are making a mistake."

The 31-year-old Spaniard had been first choice for club and country for over a decade but fell down the pecking order at Madrid after suffering a hand injury in January.

Mourinho signed Diego Lopez as cover during the transfer window and the former Villarreal custodian has kept his place despite the return to full fitness of Madrid's talismanic captain.

Casillas insists, however, that he is "good" and "training quite brilliantly", while adding that he is "helping the team as much as he can".

Asked at promotional event to describe his relationship with Mourinho, he said: "It wasn't cold, it was honest. We have a great professional relationship."

He added: "I'm training the same as I was before the injury.

"Someone else decides, not me, but I'm happy because when I got the all-clear the hand was great and now I have to wait for my chance."

Los Rojiblancos has tailed off after a fantastic start to the season and lies third, three points behind its neighbour.

However, Atletico can close the gap when the pair meet on Saturday - a match in which Simeone believes his side can triumph.

"The team is good," the Argentinian told www.clubatleticomadrid.com.

"They put in a big performance in Seville, working hard as a group.

"We'll approach this game like any other league game, with the same excitement and enthusiasm to take the three points.

"We are closer to our target, it has taken a lot of hard work to get here and Saturday is another chance to get closer.

"We have to play better than them and I think Saturday is an opportunity that we have to make the most of."

Arda Turan is a doubt for Atletico and will be assessed before the game, while midfielder Tiago has started training again and could also be involved.

"The league is not finished on Saturday (Sunday AEST)," Simeone added.

"There are a lot of games left to play and we always have the desire to keep growing, to improve on last season.

"The higher we can finish, the more important it will be for the club and for a team that has worked hard, we are strong and will continue to grow."

Saturday (Sunday AEST) provides Jose Mourinho's side with the ideal opportunity to make amends for its embarrassing 4-1 Champions League semi-final first leg defeat at Borussia Dortmund earlier this week.

Barcelona will also be hoping to hit back on Saturday (Sunday AEST), having also suffered a heavy defeat in Germany this week.

It lost its semi-final first leg 4-0 at Bayern Munich but travels to Athletic Bilbao knowing it could secure the La Liga crown if it collects three points and second-placed Real loses.

Levante hosts Celta Vigo and Mallorca travels to Real Zaragoza in Saturday's (Sunday AEST) other fixtures, while Rayo Vallecano faces Osasuna on Friday (Saturday AEST).

Sunday (Monday AEST) gives fourth-placed Real Sociedad a chance to put space between it and fifth-placed Valencia when the teams face off in San Sebastian.

Malaga sits sixth and faces Getafe, Espanyol plays Granada and Sevilla travels to Valladolid in Sunday's (Monday AEST) other fixtures, with Real Betis hosting resurgent Deportivo on Monday (Tuesday AEST).

The 18-year-old centre-back passed his medical with Atletico before signing a five-year contact with the Spanish club, the Rojiblancos announced on its official website.

Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero described Gimenez, who has been called up to the Uruguay Under-20 side, as a "natural talent, a fast defender who uses the ball well, a good marker and classy on the ball."

Two goals from Thomas Muller and one each from Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben gave Jupp Heynckes' side an advantage which leaves the Catalans little hope of turning things around at the Nou Camp next Wednesday (Thursday AEST).

While Barca can never be underestimated, it will require a turnaround of colossal proportions to prevent Bayern from reaching its third Champions League final in four years.

Given the manner of the Bundesliga side's domination, it is nigh-on inconceivable Barcelona will not be walking out at Wembley on May 25.

While Roura insists his side will fight tooth and nail to overturn the deficit, he acknowledged the damage caused by the demolition.

He told reporters: "The players are sad and frustrated.

"This was a game that we were excited about and the result is awful. We're all sad but this is football. We have to keep on going.

"The defeat is very painful and it complicates our chances of getting to the final."

Roura added: "We will try to turn this tie around in the return leg.

"Miracles are hard to get and the 4-0 result is complicated, but our obligation is to fight as hard as we can.

"We will keep on trying until the referee blows the final whistle."

While critical of the referee, Roura also pointed to Bayern's greater physical presence although that did not give sufficient credit to the nature of the Germans' domination.

"In the first half we competed well but they scored from a set piece and we knew coming into the match that they were a physical side; strong and powerful," he said.

"In the first half we had our options.

"What hurt us the most was the second goal. We tried to carry on but Bayern made it very difficult."

Lionel Messi returned to the squad after missing Barca's last three league matches with a hamstring problem.

He was well-marshaled at the Allianz Arena but Roura praised the effort he had made to even just be on the field.

He said: "Leo put in an incredible effort to be here. He managed to play the 90 minutes and he did what he could. I'm proud of how hard he worked to be here."

Bermejo struck in the second minute of added time as the Galician club moved off the foot of the table - above its opponent - and to within two points of safety.

The host had fallen behind to Cristian Sapunaru's header midway through the first half and although Alex Lopez levelled proceedings shortly afterwards, it looked like the teams would have to settle for a point until Bermejo struck from close range.

With six games remaining in the season, this was still a must-win clash for Abel Resino's side, which was three points adrift of Zaragoza before kick-off.

While Celta started brightly, with Lopez curling a free-kick from just outside the area over the crossbar, at the other end Javi Varas had to be at his best to fingertip away Adam Pinter's long-range drive.

Lopez should have done better with his strike from six yards but was brilliantly denied by Zaragoza goalkeeper Roberto, who used his feet.

It looked to be a crucial miss when Sapunaru gave the visitor a 25th-minute lead, heading into the top corner after Antonio Apono's free-kick from the left wing.

Spurred into action, Lopez missed the target from just outside the box before making amends for his earlier misses in the 36th minute.

The 25-year-old midfielder rose highest to head home from Augusto Fernandez's centre from the right.

Natxo Insa had the opportunity to put Celta ahead just after half-time but Sapunaru kept the scores level with a last-ditch tackle.

The Blanquillos was still a threat on the attack and Varas had to tip Portugal international Helder Postiga's effort round the post.

But the home side was starting to get on top in the closing stages, with Fabian Orellana twice missing the target from decent positions.

Just as it seemed it would have to settle for a point that would have kept it at the bottom of the table, Bermejo slotted past Roberto from Orellana's left-wing cross to give the spoils to the host.

The Colombian poked home a shot from Raul Garcia to win a closely-fought match that was high on intensity and tension but which produced little in the way of quality football.

Nine-man Getafe's hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League suffered a blow as it lost 2-0 at home to Espanyol.

A goal by Joan Verdu gave the visitor the lead towards the end of a first half which saw few chances and little incident or excitement.

The host failed to produce the commanding performance coach Luis Garcia had demanded before the game, and its level dropped even further when Borja Fernandez was sent off early in the second half.

Getafe centre-back Federico Fernandez then also received his marching orders midway through the second period before Espanyol midfielder Christian Stuani made sure of the points immediately after with his side's second goal.

Osasuna could not get the win it needed to arrest a poor run of form that has it hovering just above the relegation zone, but did enough to frustrate Real Sociedad's European ambitions in a disappointing goalless draw in Pamplona.

There were desperately few chances of note at either end, although Sociedad's Imanol Agirretxe was denied by a post midway through the first half with a header from a corner.

Fernando Llorente scored his first Primera Division goal since September to earn 10-man Athletic Bilbao a 1-1 draw from its trip to in-form Deportivo La Coruna.

Bruno Gama had Depor dreaming of a fifth successive victory with his 38th-minute strike but Llorente headed Athletic level just before the break to earn a point for the Basque outfit, which was forced to hold on with a man less for the final nine minutes after the dismissal of Ander Iturraspe.

The Argentina superstar has missed Barca's last three Primera Division matches as the Catalan giant decided not to take any unnecessary risks with the hamstring problem Messi sustained in the first leg of its Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain.

However, Messi, who featured as a substitute in the second leg against PSG, trained normally on Sunday and, even though he is still waiting for the green light from Barca's medical team to resume playing, he has been included in Tito Vilanova's 21-man travelling party for Tuesday's trip to Bayern.

The only players missing from the squad are injured defenders Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano plus the suspended Adriano.

The Portuguese has a contract with the Spanish champion until 2016, but has consistently been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season.

Mourinho admitted on Friday to saying he 'didn't think he would be here next season' to the president of CD Canillas, a club in the north of Madrid where Mourinho's son plays in a youth team.

However, he claimed that his relationship with president Florentino Perez was a good one and that they would decide his future together at the end of the season.

"My relationship with the president and Jose Angel Sanchez (the sporting director) is very good," he said.

"This allows us to sit down and analyse things calmly whatever happens in the games."

The report in El Pais claims though that an informal poll carried out by Perez among the squad found the majority would not be in favour of Mourinho staying on.

Moreover, the five senior players that were against his continuation as boss claimed they already had offers from other sides and would look for a move at the end of the season should there not be a change of coach.

The former Chelsea boss has had very public disagreements with Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos this season, with Casillas currently being overlooked in favour of Diego Lopez in goal.

Barca, which takes on Bayern Munich in Germany on Tuesday evening (Wednesday morning AEST), needed an 84th-minute goal from Cesc Fabregas to earn a 1-0 win over Levante at the Nou Camp after David Villa had missed a first-half penalty.

It may not have been the most clinical of performances from a Barca side missing star man Lionel Messi but the victory restored the Catalan club's 13-point lead at the top of the standings after nearest challenger Madrid had beaten Real Betis 3-1 earlier.

With six games remaining, that means Barca could clinch the title next weekend if it beats Athletic Bilbao away from home and defending champion Madrid slips up against local rival Atletico at the Vicente Calderon.

More good news to come out of the match for Barca was that fullback Eric Abidal made his first start for the club since February 2012, having undergone liver surgery last year.

Earlier, Real Madrid looked well in control of its home clash with Real Betis when Karim Benzema made it 2-0 in the 57th minute to add to Mesut Ozil's opener on the stroke of half-time.

However, Jose Mourinho's men very nearly let that advantage slip with Betis pulling a goal back in the 71st minute through Jorge Molina's penalty before the Andalusian side hit the woodwork in the 87th minute through Ruben Castro.

That was a huge escape for Madrid and it made the most of it with Ozil - in his 150th competition match for the club - netting his second of the night late on with a close-range finish.

The win is just what Madrid would have been hoping for heading into a crucial 10 days which sees it play Borussia Dortmund home and away in the Champions League and also face bitter rival Atletico in La Liga.

The win came at a cost though with Marcelo and Luka Modric both limping out of the game with injuries.

Valencia, which has finished third behind the big two of Madrid and Barca in each of the last three seasons, gave its Champions League hopes a huge boost with a 5-1 mauling of Malaga.

Four goals in six devastating first-half minutes from Dani Parejo, Roberto Soldado (two) and Sergio Canales set Los Che on the way and Ever Banega completed scoring after Julio Baptista had pulled a goal back for Malaga on the stroke of half-time from a free-kick

Valencia is now fifth, a point behind Real Sociedad and three points clear of Malaga in sixth.

In the day's other match Granada drew 1-1 at home with Real Valladolid, Patrick Ebert putting the visitor ahead in the 59th minute and Youssef El Arabi equalising 14 minutes later.

The Brazilian was substituted in the 65th minute of the Primera Division clash after hurting himself in a fall at the Iberostar Stadium.

The 28-year-old has scored seven times this season with the club currently eighth and in the hunt for a Europa League place.

A statement on the official website read: "The club wishes to convey our support and strength to Leo, wishing you the best and speedy recovery."

Earlier this week, press in Spain widely reported comments by Manuel Alvarez, the president of CD Canillas, a club from the north of Madrid where Mourinho's son is a player.

Alvarez claimed that during a chat with Canillas coaching staff on Monday, Mourinho announced he would not be in Madrid next year to take part in the annual meeting.

At his Friday press briefing ahead of Real Madrid's Liga clash with Betis on Saturday (Sunday AEST), Mourinho verified the comments - but encouraged reporters not to read too much into them.

"I can confirm that, when I was asked if I would be here next season, I said, 'I don't think so.' I said that I didn't think I could be there for next year's meeting," said the Portuguese.

"I am neither unhappy nor sad at Real.

"I have already said that my relationships with the president (Florentino Perez), with Jose Angel Sanchez (the sporting director), with the club, were good," he continued.

"Normally, when you get to these situations, there are problems between the club and the coach but here that is not the case because we get on.

"The best thing for us right now is to beat Betis, get to the Champions League final and win the Copa del Rey final, and then after that we can discuss what is best for everyone."

Madrid faces Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final next week and will face city rival Atletico in the Copa del Rey final next month.

Throughout the course of his third season at the club, Mourinho has continually insisted that his future would not be decided until the close season.

The former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach is under contract until 2016.

But it could be the biggest mistake of his career if he returns to the English capital to manage Chelsea.

Not a day goes by, it seems, without another story linking Mourinho to Stamford Bridge.

The latest has him reportedly paying a visit to Canillas, a Real Madrid satellite club where his son plays, to give a talk to the club coaches, after which he allegedly stated he would not be able to repeat the favour next year because he would not be at Real Madrid.

The same Spanish language website, futbol.as.com, also reported claims that Mourinho produced a photograph of Chelsea celebrating on an open-top bus and said: "I'll be up on that bus next season".

Fact or fantasy? You never can tell with Mourinho. Yet one thing is certain. While the latest transfer talk also links Malaga's Manuel Pellegrini with a possible move to Stamford Bridge to succeed interim manager Rafael Benitez, it is Mourinho who is the preferred choice of most Chelsea fans.

They should be careful what they wish for.

There was good reason why Mourinho and his coaching staff left Stamford Bridge with an $26.6 million pay-off in September 2007. It was because the club was not big enough to accommodate the egos of the self-declared 'Special One' and owner Roman Abramovich.

What makes anyone believe anything is different now?

The chances are Mourinho would want to freeze out Fernando Torres, the $74 million play-thing of Abramovich and a striker who has confounded the attempts of successive managers to rekindle his scoring talents.

The chances are he would look at Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard and see wonderfully talented individuals but not men who automatically conform to his preferred template of strength, style, stamina and steel.

The point is Mourinho would not walk into Stamford Bridge and smoothly turn the clock back in an instant to the days when he won back-to-back Premier League titles and threatened to end the dominance of Manchester United.

For a start there is another big player on the scene now in the shape of Manchester City. For another, the men who Mourinho was inextricably allied to last time no longer wield the same power.

Frank Lampard, it seems, is departing at the end of the season while the ageing John Terry, Ashley Cole and Petr Cech are on the slide.

Mourinho, given time and money, is a good enough coach to cope with all of that. Of course he is. The question is whether two arrogant, powerful men, who both live by the code that even when they are wrong they are right, can forget their differences and rub along together?

The short answer is Andriy Shevchenko.

You might remember him. He was the $44.4 million Ukrainian signing who Abramovich liked and Mourinho did not. He was the striker Abramovich wanted to start every game and for whom Mourinho reserved an almost permanent spot on the bench.

The stand-off, plus the functional football for which Chelsea was known during that period, led to Mourinho's downfall.

Why would anything be different the second time around? Has Abramovich mellowed? Does he recognise now the nuances and the time required to build a footballing dynasty capable of consistent success?

Not, one suspects, if you asked the likes of Avram Grant, Carlo Ancelotti or Roberto di Matteo or, come to think, any of the 10 managers who Abramovich has employed since he pitched up in west London in 2003.

Not that Abramovich will have any shortage of would-be takers when Benitez leaves at the end of the season, despite his trigger-happy reputation. Pellegrini, no question, would bring an experienced eye, Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid an energetic personality. There has also been talk of former Chelsea favourite Gianfranco Zola and Everton's David Moyes, if the latter decides it is time to end his brilliant stewardship at Goodison.

Mourinho, however, should come to London to shop and to relax only. The old flame burns brighter in the imagination than in reality.

In other words, in football you should never go back.

The four-time world player of the year has struggled with a right thigh injury that limited his appearance in the quarter-final to an inspirational second-half cameo during the second leg elimination of Paris Saint-Germain.

"The big news about Thursday's training was Leo Messi," a statement on the club website fcbarcelona.com read.

"The Argentine suffered a thigh injury during the 2-2 first leg at the Parc des Princes (2-2 against PSG) but has returned to training."

After Barca's win against the French club, on the away goals rule after a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou, Messi has since missed the 3-0 Liga victory over Real Zaragoza but is now set to play a role in the crucial first-leg tie at the Allianz Arena.

More good news for the four-time European champion is the return to training of key utility player Sergio Busquets, who also missed the Zaragoza tie with a groin problem.

Both players are likely to be rested or used sparingly for Sunday's (AEST) league match against Levante.

Barcelona currently leads arch rival and fellow Champions League semi-finalist Real Madrid by 13 points with seven matches to play.

Spanish sports daily As raised the prospect of the Portuguese's departure from the nine-time European champion in an interview with Manuel Alvarez, club president of Canillas, where the Real boss delivered a coaching masterclass on Monday.

"Mourinho told us that next year he wouldn't be able to give the masterclass, that it would be impossible because he would no longer be here.

"He said it half jokingly, half seriously," Alvarez was quoted as saying.

"He didn't tell us where he was going because we didn't ask him any further questions," the president of Canillas, a club in the Madrid suburbs, added.

On Sunday another Spanish paper, El Pais, linked Mourinho to a return to his former club Chelsea, which has also been linked to Malaga's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Mourinho's contract with Real, which faces Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-final first leg next week, runs until 2016.

He has always stated that he plans to sit down with Real president Florentino Perez at the end of the season to discuss his future.

Casillas has fallen out of favour at Real this season, losing his starting place to Diego Lopez after being first choice at the Bernabeu and for Spain for more than a decade.

Manager Jose Mourinho's expected departure from Madrid in the summer could well see Casillas come back into favour but were the Portuguese to stay, further speculation would mount over the stopper's future.

And with Barca keeper Victor Valdes set to leave the Nou Camp after confirming he will not extend his contract beyond 2014, there is set to be a vacancy between the sticks for the Catalan giant.

That would open the door for the most controversial Spanish transfer since Luis Figo moved the other way 13 years ago, but Xavi does not see his Spain team-mate making the move.

He told Spanish television program The Goal: "Iker will not come to Barca.

"He's a Madrid man and would not walk away.

"I would welcome it but do not see it here, honestly."

He added: "I feel bad for him to see him on the bench. I think it is unfair. He does not deserve it."

Valdes' announcement in January that he would not be signing a new deal was met with some hostility in Barcelona, and Xavi was quick to jump to the defence of his long-time team-mate.

"Valdes has had the worst media treatment I've seen in my career," he said.

"Knowing Victor, who is an extraordinary man, I feel bad that he is leaving.

"He is a friend, a piece of the furniture and guy who deserves better."

The 27-year-old was sent off for an elbow on Patrick Ebert in the 76th minute as the pair contested an aerial ball which would normally carry a one-game suspension.

But Alexis has been handed an extra two games for his protestations towards the officials and a further game for spitting into the crowd as he made his way towards the tunnel.

Getafe is currently six points behind sixth-placed Valencia in the race for a UEFA Europa League place and Alexis will be eligible to return to action in the potentially pivotal match between the two sides on the final day of the season.

The highly-rated Germany international has been linked with a host of Europe's top clubs and Madrid is the latest side believed to be following the 19-year-old.

Draxler told Marca: "Real Madrid are one of the world's great clubs, it makes me proud that they like my style of play. I would be a dream to play at Real Madrid.

"I've always said that I would like to play in Spain. Every weekend I try to see the matches involving Madrid and Barcelona. I never miss the Classicos."

He added: "Right now I'm with Schalke and I have a contract until 2016.

"I'm having a very good season and I'm doing very well, I've scored eight goals in the Bundesliga and I feel very happy."

A match of few clear-cut chances looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw until Mallorca launched a flurry of attacks late on and the Mexico international bundled the ball over the line after Celta goalkeeper Javi Varas failed to hold onto a header by Tomer Hemed.

The result means Mallorca moves off the bottom of the Primera Division table, displacing Celta in 19th place and moving three points clear of the Galician side, and it is now just one point from safety.

The first half will not be remembered for being the most exciting display of football this season.

Celta midfielder Alex Lopez was presented with the best chance in the opening 45 minutes when he raced onto a header by Mario Bermejo after a throw-in and was through on goal, but he pulled his shot just wide of the far post.

Mallorca, despite having more of the ball, only managed to hit the target from two free-kicks, both taken in the space of two minutes by Dos Santos, but both of which were fisted away by Celta goalkeeper Varas.

Celta made a better start to the second half and thought it should have been awarded a penalty when Bermejo was brought down by Pedro Geromel, but the referee waved play on.

Earlier, Jonathan Vila had headed a cross from Michael Krohn Delhi over the bar.

Borja Oubina then tried a volley which went just over the bar, and Mallorca goalkeeper Dudu Auoate later kept out a header by Celta centre-back Andres Tunez.

At the other end, Varas produced an inspired save to deny Alejandro Alfaro.

As the minutes ticked away the home crowd became restless and Mallorca poured forward.

Substitute Michael Pereira had had a positive impact after replacing Jose Luis Marti but he shot well wide of goal in the final minutes, bringing an encouraging attacking move to a disappointing end.

However, his side would produce one final attack, which was to put to better use.

Tomas Pina got down the left wing and delivered a cross into the box.

Hemed rose to head the ball down and Varas made the save, but could only push the ball as far as Dos Santos, who nudged the ball in from three yards out to send the home crowd wild.

Barca made short work of its struggling opponents, winning 3-0 despite fielding a weakened starting XI which did not include the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, David Villa or Gerard Pique.

Thiago was one of the beneficiaries of coach Tito Vilanova's rotation policy, capping an impressive performance with a goal to consolidate a brace from young winger Cristian Tello.

The win maintained Barca's 13-point advantage over second-placed Real Madrid and Thiago is hoping it can clinch the title sooner rather than later although he also claimed it was not yet a "done deal".

He told the club's official website: "We want to win La Liga as soon as possible, but the race isn't over yet.

"There are a lot of points still in play and we can't assume that this is a done deal."

Thiago was pleased Barca had safely negotiated a trip to La Romareda to face a side scrapping to preserve their top-flight status.

"Every team has a lot on the line at this point in the season and they are stronger when they play at home, that's why we're very pleased with today's win," he added.

"We were a complete team today in all aspects of the game, and the score reflects that."

Tello was pleased the fringe players had impressed in the absence of some of the club's high-profile stars.

He said: "We knew that this was going to be a difficult match, but we were very focused.

"I'm pleased that I scored two goals, but even more so that the team won.

"Even though this wasn't our usual starting line-up, the team played the same style of football. It shows that we are all here to contribute."

Zaragoza came into the match having taken just 27 points from 30 matches and occupying 18th place.

And its performance replicated its standing as Tito Vilanova's team - 13 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid - dominated from the off.

Barcelona made seven changes from the side which progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League last week but it made little difference as it dominated from the first minute to the last.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid coasted to a comfortable 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.

Ronaldo struck with a fine free-kick in the second minute before heading a second after 69 minutes.

Gonzalo Higuain scored a third for Jose Mourinho's side while defeat left Bilbao eight points above the relegation zone.

Radamel Falcao scored twice as Atletico Madrid continued its bid for a top-two finish in the Primera Division with a comprehensive 5-0 home win over Granada.

Falcao, who was the centre of more transfer speculation last week with Manchester United mooted as a possible destination this northern summer, struck in the 27th and 47th minutes to take his tally to 30 in all competitions this season.

Diego Costa, Raul Garcia and Filipe Luis were also on the scoresheet as Diego Simeone's men made it 14 wins from 16 league matches at the Vicente Calderon this season.

The win also keeps the pressure on City rival Real, which is three points clear with seven matches left.

Real Sociedad is a further 11 points back in fourth as its outstanding run of form continued with a convincing 2-0 win away to Rayo Vallecano.

Two goals by Imanol Agirretxe in the opening 14 minutes set the Basque side on its way to victory and although it took its foot off the gas somewhat in the second half, it was always in control of the game.

It was its fourth win in its last seven and it is four points clear of Malaga and Valencia.

Barca has opted to put its stars in cotton wool with Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto also given the weekend off.

Messi's exclusion comes as no surprise as Barca takes a safety-first approach to a hamstring injury suffered in the first leg of its UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain last week.

Messi returned off the bench as Barca secured its place in the last-four in midweek but still appeared inhibited by the injury - and his side barely snuck through on the away goals rule after a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp.

A Barca statement revealed the Argentina playmaker had undergone further treatment on Saturday as it looks to ensure his fitness ahead of a busy end to the season.

It was also revealed that Busquets was suffering with a groin problem while Iniesta and Alba had been rested.

"Leo Messi, Jose Manuel Pinto, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will all miss this Sunday's away match against Zaragoza," the statement read.

"The Argentine had treatment from the physio this Saturday.

"The coaches have decided to rest Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba while Sergio Busquets has a groin problem."

Barcelona is comfortably on course to win La Liga with a 13-point gap over Real Madrid at the top.

That has allowed it to focus its attention on the Champions League where it will face last year's beaten finalist Bayern Munich in the semi-finals later this month.

Barca's major injury worry ahead of the two-legged tie are in defence with centre-backs Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol currently sidelined.

The duo trained away from the main group on Saturday, although Barca was given a boost with fullback Adriano declared fit to meet Zaragoza despite being substituted in the second half against PSG.

"The Brazilian international, who was substituted during the second half against PSG, took a full part in training today and forms part of the squad," the Barcelona statement continued.

"At today's session, held at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training facilities, club captain Carles Puyol - who celebrated his 35th birthday this Saturday - and Javier Mascherano did recovery exercises separately from the main group."

Mubarak Wakaso opened the scoring for the host on the stroke of half-time but Sergio Canales levelled shortly after the restart.

The real drama was reserved for the closing stages of the match, however, with Joan Verdu putting Espanyol ahead again in the 82nd minute before his effort was cancelled out by Jonas fine minutes later.

Roberto Soldado gave Valencia the lead in injury-time but there was still time for more drama as Garcia scored in the 94th minute to snatch the draw.

The result means Espanyol overtakes Levante in 11th place, while Valencia missed the chance to reclaim fourth spot from Real Sociedad, which plays Rayo Vallecano on Sunday morning (Sunday evening AEST).

Deportivo La Coruna took another big step towards survival after making it four wins on the trot with an impressive 4-0 victory at Levante.

The game was as good as over inside the opening half-hour as Depor struck three times through Juan Carlos Valeron, Luis Pizzi and Nelson Oliveira.

Bruno Gama put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal late on as the in-form Galician side climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time since November.

Valladolid staged a second-half turnaround to overcome 10-man Getafe 2-1 for its first home win since January.

Paco Alcacer gave the visitor an undeserved lead moments before half-time but goals by Oscar Ramos and Javi Guerra in quick succession turned the match around before Alexis Ruano was sent off for Getafe.

In the late match, Malaga's week to forget ended on a high as Julio Baptista's injury-time goal secured a 1-0 win over Osasuna.

Manuel Pellegrini's side was dumped out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage thanks to Borussia Dortmund's injury-time heroics, but returned to winning ways to climb to fifth place in the standings.

Sevilla - who won the first Seville derby 5-1 in November - raced into a 3-0 lead with Ivan Rakitic scoring two and Alvaro Negredo adding a third goal.

However, Dorlan Pabon pulled a goal back for Betis just before half-time, and the second half belonged to the host.

Ruben Castro scored a second goal for Betis from a dubious penalty, then Sevilla's hard man Gary Medel was sent off once again.

Nigerian defender Emmanel Nosa made it 3-3 for Betis a minute from time by heading in a perfect centre from Pabon.

Betis defender Antonio Amaya said: "We were really poor in the first half, they were much better than us. But we showed a lot of character in the second half and we deserved to draw at least."

The draw takes Betis up to sixth with 48 points from 31 games, one point less than fifth-placed Valencia but one more than Malaga, who is seventh.

Sevilla, meanwhile, stayed in disappointing 10th place, well away from the European places.

Barca is aiming to move one step closer to the Liga title with a win at Real Zaragoza on Sunday (Monday AEST).

The Catalans progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for a record sixth consecutive season on during the week by eliminating Paris Saint-Germain on away goals.

But it suffered another injury blow in defence with Adriano, who had just returned from a hamstring injury, being carried off in the second half.

With Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano already sidelined, playing the inexperienced Marc Bartra or moving Busquets back into the centre of the defence seem the only two options available to coach Tito Vilanova.

Spanish international Busquets insisted he'd be comfortable in the back four.

"If I need to play at centre-back, I will do whatever is necessary for the team," he told Barca TV.

"We still have two league games before the semi-finals of the Champions League. If we can pick up six points in these two games in the league, we will take a huge step towards winning the title."

The Catalans were far from their best midweek as they struggled without their talisman Lionel Messi, who started on the bench to protect a hamstring injury.

Messi, though, was needed to turn the tie in Barca's favour in the second half as he came on to help set up Pedro's goal which took Vilanova's men through.

And with the Argentine likely to be rested on Sunday, given Barca's 13-point advantage at the top of the table, Busquets admitted his presence will be sorely missed.

"It is clear that Messi is the best player in the world and when he is not there, you notice it," he added.

Zaragoza, meanwhile, is desperate for the points after a horrendous run of 14 games without a victory which has left it just a point above the relegation zone.

However, midfielder Victor Rodriguez believes it can take heart from its 1-1 draw against Real Madrid two weeks ago when it welcomes the league leader to La Romareda.

"You can't play the same way against Real Madrid and Barcelona because they play completely differently, but we need to play with the same attitude," said the 23-year-old former Barca youth-teamer.

Victor welcomed the fact that Messi is unlikely to be in the Barca squad because a positive result would give Zaragoza momentum ahead of its huge relegation clash with Celta Vigo next weekend.

"It is a relief for everyone if Messi doesn't play because he is one of the best in the world.

"We need to take advantage of our chances and come out of the game with a good taste in our mouth to then go to Vigo with confidence."

However, Zaragoza has injury concerns of its own as its two top goalscorers Apono and Helder Postiga are both doubtful.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid faces a tricky trip to Athletic Bilbao looking to extend its three-point gap over third-placed Atletico Madrid.

Jose Mourinho is expected to rotate his side after its exertions in also reaching the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win over Galatasaray despite losing the second leg 3-2 in Istanbul midweek.

Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso should return to the starting line-up after both were suspended for the game in Turkey, whilst Alvaro Arbeloa is expected to come in for the injured Michael Essien at right-back.

Tito Vilanova's side make the trip to Real Zaragoza with a 13-point buffer between itself and second-placed Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi came on as a substitute against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, but it remains to be seen whether he is risked for this match.

With eight games to go the title is all but assured, but for its opponent where it finishes in the table is far from certain.

Zaragoza is one place and one point above the bottom three and has not won in the league since beating Athletic Bilbao in December.

However, Alvaro Gonzalez believes his side could get a positive result at La Romareda, pointing to a recent draw against Real Madrid as proof it can compete against the league's best.

"We should be optimistic. It was said it would be very difficult against Real Madrid but we snatched a point - why not against Barcelona?" he said.

Madrid travels to the Basque country to take on an Athletic Bilbao side which comes into the game in decent form.

It may have lost 2-1 at Sevilla last time out, but Marcelo Bielsa's side had won three of its previous four and midfielder Ander Iturraspe says his side will not be playing for a point at the San Mames.

"It is a complicated game and we are all in to try and win," he said.

"We will try to press, build up pressure and to maintain our way of playing is the most important thing we can do."

Atletico Madrid is three points off its city rival and hosts Granada in a game boss Diego Simeone is desperate to win.

"If we move away from the most important thing, which is to win on Sunday, it will not be good either for the club or for the players and for the fans," he told reporters.

"We have to prepare and play the way we've been doing all year. We have to win on Sunday because it is an important match for our future."

Fourth-placed Real Sociedad travels to Rayo Vallecano to try and cement its place in the Champions League places.

"Getting the three points there is going to be difficult because it is a stadium complex and so is the time of 12 noon," said Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann.

Real Betis and Sevilla kick off the weekend's action on Friday evening (Saturday morning AEST) in the Derbi Sevillano.

Real Valladolid hosts Getafe, Levante takes on Deportivo and Malaga faces Osasuna.

Valencia travels to Espanyol knowing a win is vital if it wants to pip Sociedad to a place in the top four.

"We play every game to be in the next edition of the Champions League," said visiting coach Ernesto Valverde.

In the last game of the round, Real Mallorca faces Celta Vigo on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEST).

A host of Europe's top clubs have reportedly been eyeing the prolific Colombia international over the last year, and Spanish daily Marca claims Manchester United is in advanced talks with Atletico about a possible northern summer transfer.

Simeone took the speculation in his stride though, telling reporters: "The same thing happened at the same stage of the season last year. It's not news.

"Falcao is a great player and it's logical that the best teams in the world are interested in him. It doesn't surprise me."

Atletico paid a club-record 40 million euros ($49.56 million) to sign Falcao from Porto in 2011 and in his first season in Spain he scored 36 goals in all competitions.

The 27-year-old has continued that form this campaign, notching 28 times already to help the Rojiblancos reach the Copa del Rey final and mount a bid for a top-two finish in La Liga.

Atletico is currently third in the league standings, three points behind second-placed Real Madrid, with eight games to go. It also plays Real in the cup final next month.

The 86-year-old underwent a quadruple bypass at the same hospital in 2005 and has been kept under supervision after a routine check showed signs of an irregular heartbeat.

"Alfredo di Stefano has been admitted to the La Fe Hospital in Valencia for a regular check of his heart condition," a statement from the hospital read.

"The patient is in a good condition and needs to undergo some routine tests to control his heart condition.

"He will remain in hospital for a few days."

Di Stefano is one of Madrid's most celebrated players ever as he represented Los Blancos for 11 seasons between 1953 and 1964, winning five European Cups in the process.

Juan Carlos Garcia-Valdecasas helped carry out the 33-year-old's transplant a year ago and says to see him return to playing top-class professional sport is unprecedented.

"My first objective was that he would continue to live and enjoy a high quality of life with his family," he told Catalan radio station RAC1.

"Now we can say that the recuperation has been a miracle, an extraordinary case, because precedents like his don't exist.

"The majority of patients can live a normal life, even 90 per cent have an extraordinary quality of life, but his case is not normal.

"Medicine continues to set new goals and Abidal has marked another one for us going forward."

The Frenchman returned to the pitch for the first time in 14 months towards the end of Barca's 5-0 win over Real Mallorca.

Garcia-Valdecasas says the player may even be in the right physical shape to take part in Barca's crucial UEFA Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

"He is a Barcelona player and is in the squad. He wants to be there, he wants to play and therefore I don't think we should treat him in a different manner," he said.

"I haven't spoken with him but he could perfectly well play against PSG."

Garcia-Valdecasas also confirmed that Abidal's statement at the weekend that he would like to continue playing for a couple more years was perfectly attainable.

"If everything goes well, he could continue for two more years."

With the game heading for a draw, Negredo surged forward to tap in Jose Antonio Reyes's cross between last defender and the goalkeeper to grab the win three minutes from time.

The game at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium had a frenetic pace with play flowing back and forth from area to area. Even so, the first two goals came from set-pieces.

Negredo sent Ivan Rakitic's free-kick past goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz with a glancing header to score for Sevilla in the fourth minute.

After both sides went close, Bilbao defender Carlos Gurpegui flicked Ibai Gomez's free-kick into the far side of the net to level in the 55th.

Sevilla's Fernando Navarro received his second booking in the 73rd and Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte followed suit in the 80th.

"It was a great game for the fans to watch, very intense and against a rival that never stops," Negredo said after scoring his 16th and 17th goals of the season.

Only Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Radamel Falcao have scored more.

Sevilla's seventh straight home win under replacement coach Unai Emery kept it mid-table and in the hunt for a UEFA Europa League berth.

Sevilla plays Real Betis next round in Spain's most heated city derby.

"We'll celebrate this win," said Negredo.

"Next Friday we have a very important game for the entire city."

It was an evening to forget for third-placed Atletico, who had both Mario Suarez and Diego Godin sent off and now trail city rivals Real Madrid by three points.

Simeone's men had challenged Barcelona at the top of the table earlier in the season but, having won just one of its last five matches, it is now 15 points behind the leaders.

And the Atletico coach thinks its recent dip is partly down to the fact it no longer poses a puzzle to opposing teams.

"We went out for the win," Simeone told the club's official website.

"I think in the first half we had more chances. The squad gave everything and we were on top until the sending-off of Mario.

"The guys are working hard. They have had an impressive season and we must continue to respond in the remaining eight fixtures."

Regarding its form, the Argentinian added: "I think we could look at it from the point of view that we have 60 points.

"The season is long and the opposition are beginning to get to know each other and find solutions.

"We won in Pamplona, we drew against Valencia and here. We would like to continue to improve and it is true that we are not as clear as we have been."

The Frenchman returned to first-team action for the first time in 14 months in Barca's 5-0 win over Real Mallorca after undergoing a liver transplant almost exactly a year ago.

"Football is my life and I didn't want to end my career without playing," he told Barca TV.

"I didn't want to go out like this and I have fought to return. The objective I had wanted was to end my career playing and if I feel fine and can continue for a year or two I will do."

Abidal has had a traumatic couple of years after first learning that he had a tumour on his liver in March 2011.

However, after having the tumour removed he made a remarkable recovery to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy as Barca won the competition just two months later.

And he said that experience helped him after he discovered that he needed the transplant last year.

"When they told me the illness had returned, I had the same mentality as the first time. That is to say, to move forward, get better and return."

Abidal is also likely to be in the squad for Barca's crucial Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST).

Injuries to Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Adriano mean that despite his lack of playing time, the 33-year-old is one of the few defensive options available to coach Tito Vilanova and he is expected to start on the bench.

Los Che looked to have blown its chance to claim all the points after failing to build on the lead gifted to it by Mikel Balenziaga's first-half own goal.

Henrique Sereno was handed a second yellow card for the foul that saw Valencia awarded a penalty in the 57th minute, but Roberto Soldado was unable to capitalise as his spot-kick was saved by the impressive Dani Hernandez.

Valladolid looked to have secured an unlikely point after Oscar Gonzalez lashed home a fine effort in the 71st minute, but with just 10 seconds left in added time Jonas rose to nod in Jonathan Viera's pinpoint cross to keep Valencia on the coat-tails of Real Sociedad.

Third-placed Atletico Madrid clung on for a goalless draw at mid-table Getafe despite ending a tetchy contest with nine men.

Both Mario Suarez and Diego Godin were dismissed for the visitor, which now trails city rival Real Madrid by three points.

Espanyol took a giant step towards securing its top-flight future after beating Osasuna 2-0 at the Reyno de Navarra.

Hector Moreno gave the Catalan side the lead early in the second half and Mubarak Wakaso made sure of all three points in stoppage-time.

Rayo Vallecano picked up its first away win in just under three months after a 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo.

A smart finish by captain Piti gave the Madrid side the lead early in the first half and substitute Andrija Delibasic made sure of the points late on.

A much-changed Madrid side enjoyed a 5-1 rout of Levante, just days after it beat Galatasaray 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

Although early-season stutters have left them too far adrift of Barcelona in La Liga, the club's long-held ambition of regaining Europe's top prize remains in sight.

"This is possibly the best form that the team has been in this season," Ronaldo said. "We have a full squad with everyone available and that is very positive news, the coach can pick the best team.

"We have to respect his decisions. In football many things are possible, we have to have the desire to win because it gives us a morale boost for the Champions League".

Ronaldo was on the bench on Sunday but came on in the second half and scored the third goal.

"My aim is always to help Real Madrid with assists or goals," he added. "To be going at a goal per match makes me very happy, this is my profession and I try to always do my best. I feel good and I want to continue like this until the end of the championship."

Speculation has continued to surround the Portugal international, who has been linked with a summer move, but he batted such questions aside.

" I still have a lot to give to Real Madrid and the club can count on me because I'm always available," he said. "The important thing is winning, playing and Real Madrid, and my future does not matter".

The 33-year-old defender was a 70th-minute replacement for Gerard Pique in Barca's 5-0 rout of Real Mallorca, making his first appearance in over a year after undergoing a liver transplant last April, having previously had surgery to remove a tumour in March 2011.

The France international told L'Equipe it had been a special moment.

"It was a long (lay-off)," he said. "I really struggled. I received a lot of support through this year and this was the most important thing. From my wife, my parents, my friends, but also the fans of Barcelona too.

"Without them, I would not have returned to football. It was a unique moment. I really enjoyed these 22 minutes, as I was told I played 22 minutes.

"My goal was to return. Now it is done and I try to look a little beyond this.

"After a year of effort and hard work, the ovation is the best thing I could have had."

Abidal added that he remains a long way short of full fitness and unable at present to play 90 minutes, with an hour in a friendly against Istres the most he has managed to date.

"I hope to be part of the group until the end of the season," he added. "Whether on the bench or in the stands, it is not too important. The most important thing is to feel good and enjoy all these moments with my team-mates."

Assistant coach Jordi Roura had dedicated the win to Abidal and coach Tito Vilanova, who returned to the dugout earlier this week after two months in New York undergoing cancer treatment.

"It was a special day," Roura said. "We were able to witness Éric Abidal's return and, after many days, Tito Vilanova once again sat on the bench at the Camp Nou.

"It was a special moment for the whole team. We know that Éric is very much loved by everyone. Personally, I'm very happy and pleased."

There was plenty to celebrate in the performance too, highlighted by Cesc Fabregas who scored a hat-trick and created two more for Alexis Sanchez.

Abidal was given a standing ovation at the Nou Camp when he replaced Gerard Pique in the 70th minute, with the host leading 5-0.

The 33-year-old defender had not played for Barca's senior side in over a year after undergoing a liver transplant last April, having previously had surgery to remove a tumour in March 2011.

Abidal started training again last October and was then able to rejoin his team-mates for squad sessions in mid-December, but it was not until 21 February that he was given the green light to return to competitive action.

The France international featured for the Catalan club's reserve side in a friendly last month, playing 65 minutes against French second division side Istres at Barca's training ground.

Abidal's comeback provided the league leader with a further boost, with coach Tito Vilanova having returned to the dugout earlier this week after two months in New York undergoing cancer treatment.

Vilanova was on the bench at the Parc des Princes as Barca drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of its UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie earlier in the week, having spent time in the United States for chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment after surgery on his parotid gland in December.

It was an emotional night as the Nou Camp witnessed the return to action of Eric Abidal after a year out after liver surgery.

Fabregas commanded the spotlight though, in the injury-enforced absence of Lionel Messi, scoring three and setting up two for Alexis Sanchez as Barcelona romped home.

The home side was also inspired by head coach Tito Vilanova, who was on the Nou Camp touchline for the first time since January after undergoing treatment for cancer.

Abidal's appearance brought the crowd to their feet, with the Frenchman given a standing ovation when he replaced Gerard Pique in the 70th minute.

Mallorca held its own but it was no surprise when Barcelona made the breakthrough with two goals in two minutes.

Fabregas carried the ball from midfield and played a one-two with Alexis before steadying himself and coolly slotting the ball home across goalkeeper Dudu Aouate.

Mallorca's head went down and in the 22nd minute it found itself 2-0 adrift. This time Fabregas cut inside on the left of the area before unleashing a shot which Aouate pushed away from goal only for Alexis to follow up and fire home.

In the 37th minute an intricate passing move ended with Fabregas laying a first-time ball off to Alexis on the right of the area which he reciprocated for Fabregas to drill home.

The former Arsenal captain was involved everywhere and a minute later he provided a superb pass over the top for Alexis, who had got between two defenders, controlling the ball with his right before slotting home with his left.

Fabregas wrapped up his hat-trick seconds after the restart when he collected Andres Iniesta's threaded ball and checked inside the defender before slotting home from close range.

A much-changed Real Madrid recovered from another slow start to secure a 5-1 home win over European hopeful Levante.

But with star names Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and Angel di Maria initially watching on from the bench they fell behind - for the third successive match - to Michel's 31st-minute strike.

The response was swift, however, as Gonzalo Higuain hooked in before a Kaka penalty sent Madrid ahead within eight minutes of falling behind.

Ronaldo was inserted at the break and killed the game off after 84 minutes before Ozil added two more to lift Madrid four points clear of third-placed city rival Atletico.

Real Sociedad opened up a four-point lead on its rivals for fourth place with a resounding 4-2 win at home to Malaga.

The host took a commanding lead in the first half thanks to a frenetic nine minutes in which it found the net three times, through Carlos Vela, Alberto de la Bella and Antoine Griezmann.

Pedro Morales pulled one back for Malaga before the break, but any hope of a comeback was then vanquished by a goal by Inigo Martinez shortly after the re-start.

Roque Santa Cruz scored a second consolation goal with 20 minutes remaining, but a home victory was never in doubt.

Deportivo La Coruna gave its hopes of avoiding relegation a fillip by beating fellow struggler Real Zaragoza in a 3-2 thriller at the Riazor.

Bruno Gama put the Galician side ahead early in the first half but Helder Postiga levelled from the penalty spot and then Paco Montanes put Manolo Jimenez's visitor ahead.

Carlos Marchena equalised before half-time and Depor took the lead for a second time 10 minutes into the second half thanks to an own goal by Abraham Minero, whose night was made even worse when he was sent off with nine minutes remaining.

The Andalusian derby was as good as settled during a four-minute spell just after the half-hour when Betis scored three times, Ruben Castro netting the first two before Granada defender Inigo Lopez put through his own net.

Betis added a fourth goal through Dorlan Pabon at the start of the second half before Granada trimmed the deficit with a Carlos Aranda header with 18 minutes to go.

Relegation-threatened Granada could not make anymore inroads though and it was reduced to 10 men when Guilherme Siqueira was shown a second yellow card for diving, and Betis wrapped up the scoring five minutes from time with a breakaway Angel Lopez goal.

Betis gave Granada an early warning of what might come when in the ninth minute Colombia international Pabon drew a brilliant save out of Tono with a 25-yard effort.

Tono did well to keep that out but he was largely powerless to prevent Betis taking a stranglehold on the match midway through the first half.

Castro opened the floodgates in the 30th minute with a shot into the bottom corner and the 31-year-old doubled his account for the night 60 seconds later with a close-range tap-in after Pabon's superb chip from outside the area came down off the crossbar.

Worse was to follow for Granada as Betis added a third in the 34th minute when Lopez inadvertently bundled the ball into his own net after Junior's looping header had also come back off the bar.

Lopez thought he had made amends by pulling a goal back almost immediately, but his effort was ruled out for offside and Betis went into the break with the three-goal lead intact.

Granada made a double substitution at half-time but it barely had any time to make an impact before Betis made it 4-0, Pabon finding the back of the net in the 53rd minute from a Castro pass.

The home side finally gave its fans something to cheer in the 72nd minute when Aranda glanced home a near-post header to make it 4-1 but any hopes of an unlikely comeback ended seven minutes later when Granada lost Siqueira.

Siqueira was shown a second yellow card for simulation after going to ground inside the area.

Betis then completed a miserable night for its host by adding a fifth goal late on through Angel.

Messi secured himself yet another place in the history books last weekend when he became the first player to score against every other side in the Spanish top flight in successive matches after netting for the 19th consecutive league game.

However, a hamstring injury picked up in his side's UEFA Champions League quarter-final, first-leg draw with Paris Saint-Germain means the Argentina superstar will be absent for the visit of Mallorca.

Losing Messi, whose first-half goal against PSG took his club tally to a remarkable 57 in all competitions this season, is undoubtedly a blow for Barca but defender Dani Alves is viewing his absence as a chance to prove it is no one-man team.

He said: "The fact that we don't have him is an incentive to prove to everyone that we have enough quality to compete without him and show that we can do it just as well as when he's here."

It is not yet known if Messi will be fit in time for next week's second leg against PSG, but one player who will definitely be missing is Javier Mascherano after he was ruled out for six weeks after suffering knee ligament damage at the Parc des Princes.

Mascherano's injury adds to Barca's defensive headaches with Carles Puyol and Adriano also sidelined while Eric Abidal is yet to feature for the first team since returning from more than a year out having undergone a liver transplant.

Right-back Alves has offered to step in at centre-back if required, saying: "It's easy for me to adapt. I'm ready to do what the manager asks."

Despite its injury problems, Barca should be too strong for second-bottom Mallorca as Tito Vilanova's side looks to maintain its 13-point lead over Real Madrid.

Madrid plays host to Levante in buoyant mood after earning a 3-0 first-leg advantage over Galatasaray in its Champions League quarter-final.

However, with Barca so far clear, Jose Mourinho's side now only looks to be playing for second spot in La Liga and it will hope to keep third-placed Atletico Madrid at bay.

Atletico is just a point behind its bitter rival and will be desperate to finish in the top two for the first time since winning the league and cup double back in 1996.

Coach Diego Simeone, whose side faces a derby clash with Getafe, said: "I always said that when you're 15th, you want to be 14th. And when you are fourth, you want to be third.

"You always want to advance. And we want to finish as high as possible."

Spain's other Champions League participant Malaga, which drew 0-0 at home with Borussia Dortmund, faces a big clash this weekend as it goes to Real Sociedad.

Sociedad is currently fourth in the table, one point and one place above Malaga.

Elsewhere, last-placed Deportivo La Coruna will hope to boost its survival hopes with a third successive victory when it plays fellow struggler Real Zaragoza, while third-bottom Celta Vigo plays Rayo Vallecano, Valencia takes on Real Valladolid and Osasuna meets Espanyol.

The 30th round starts on Friday evening (Saturday morning AEDT) when Granada hosts Real Betis while on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEST), Sevilla takes on Athletic Bilbao.

Messi was removed at half-time during the 2-2 draw at Parc des Princes with a hamstring problem but in a statement Barcelona confirmed the 25-year-old could still play a part in the return leg at the Nou Camp next Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST).

Reports in Spain speculate Messi's injury will sideline him for seven to 10 days.

"The club's medical services have revealed that Leo Messi's hamstring injury will definitely rule him out of this weekend's game against Mallorca, whilst his availability after that will depend on how the injury progresses," a statement on Barcelona's website read.

"The Barca number 10 felt a twinge in his right hamstring towards the end of the first half last night and failed to reappear after the break, with Cesc Fabregas taking his place."

Messi also confirmed the injury was less serious than first thought in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.

"I will return soon," he wrote. "Thankfully it was not so serious."

Messi's absence from the Mallorca game brings a premature end to his incredible scoring streak in the Primera Division.

At the weekend, Messi became the first player to score against every other side in the Spanish top flight in successive matches after netting for the 19th consecutive league game.

"I can confirm that Real Madrid is one of the clubs we are looking at," Antoine Colombani, spokesman for Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, told a regular news briefing, after a report in The Independent newspaper.

His remarks suggest European Union authorities are starting to act on long-standing vows championed with UEFA to clean up financial dealings at the top of the game and could serve as a warning to other huge spending clubs.

The EU executive - which has the power to issue massive fines and has hit the likes of computer giant Microsoft for hundreds of millions of euros - is also examining 'fiscal and social obligations' for clubs in a number of leagues around Europe, Colombani said.

Colombani stressed Brussels had not yet decided whether to open a formal state-aid investigation, such as is the case already for leading Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and four others in the Netherlands.

According to The Independent, Real benefited from a real estate deal with the Madrid local authority that saw land sold to the club in 1998 for 421,000 euros ($517,258) revalued at 22.7 million euros ($27.89 million) in 2011.

Granada went into the match just four points above the drop zone, while Athletic was two places and four points better off.

Granada was without a win in five and its lack of confidence showed early on as Athletic dominated.

Athletic went ahead when Aduriz headed home Gomez Ibai's cross from six yards out and it was a lead they would not relinquish.

Meanwhile, neither side was able to advance its claim for European football next season, as Real Betis and Getafe contested a goalless draw at Benito Villamarin.

The host came into the game in seventh place, with its opponent one point and one spot further back in the Primera Division standings.

And at the end of 90 minutes that picture was unaltered, though both sides moved a point closer to sixth-placed Valencia.

There was no shortage of shots as the European hopefuls attempted to secure maximum points, but too many efforts were off target.

When goal-bound efforts were produced, the keepers were equal to them - Codina next tipping Dorlan Pabon's 20-yarder round the post.

The closing stages of the game were disrupted by substitutes and injuries and there was no late drama as the rivals settled on a share of the spoils.

Atletico Madrid missed the chance to reclaim second place in the Primera Division table after a 1-1 draw with Valencia on a rain-soaked night at the Vicente Calderon.

The goals came inside the opening six minutes as Jonas' fifth-minute opener was cancelled out by Radamel Falcao almost from the restart.

The goal was Falcao's 23rd league strike this season and Atletico, which would have gone back ahead of city rival Real with victory, thought it should have had a second-half penalty when Jonas appeared to handle in the area.

Last-placed Deportivo La Coruna boosted its survival bid with a 3-2 win at fellow struggler Real Mallorca.

Second-half goals from Carlos Marchena and Riki gave Depor a 3-1 lead after Silvio cancelled out Victor Casadesus' opener.

Alfaro scored late to set up a tense finish but Depor held on to claim back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Osasuna's hopes of avoiding relegation were handed a huge boost after it came from behind to beat Valladolid 3-1.

An own goal by centre-back Ruben gave the host an early lead but two goals by Kike Sola within 10 minutes after half-time put Jose Mendilibar's side in the lead, before Miguel De Las Cuevas scored his first goal for the club to make sure of the points.

Real Sociedad's push for a top-four finish suffered a slight setback as it was held to a 2-2 draw at Espanyol.

While victory would have been a significant boost to its UEFA Champions League aspirations, it may have left the Cornella-El Prat thankful for a point as Javi Lopez's own goal 14 minutes from time denied the host maximum points.

It was the second time Sociedad had come from behind in the match, David Zurutuza scoring either side of strikes from Sergio Garcia and Christian Stuani in a busy first half.

The Argentina international is no stranger to treading new ground and his 73rd-minute goal meant he has scored in 19 successive Primera Division matches.

In doing so he has found the net against every other side in the Spanish top flight - the first player to ever do that in consecutive matches - and he has 29 goals from his last 19.

His would not be the winner, though, with Borja Oubina's late header earning Celta a point, with Naxto Insa's opener having been earlier scrubbed out by Cristian Tello's goal.

It was a good day for Barca, however, with Messi's latest record being set and Eric Abidal on the bench for the first time since a liver transplant over a year ago.

The France defender did not make it on to the field but his return is a significant one, as is that of coach Tito Vilanova who was not at the game but is back in the country after undergoing chemotherapy in America.

Second-placed Real Madrid missed the chance to make things slightly less comfortable for Barcelona as it too was held by a team fighting the drop, fourth-bottom Real Zaragoza.

Madrid could have trimmed its arch-rival's lead to 11 points if it could beat Zaragoza and claim a seventh successive league victory.

However, like Barca, it had to settle for just a point with Rodri putting Zaragoza ahead early on before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled things up just before the break with his 28th La Liga goal of the campaign.

Neither side could go on to force a winner in the second half, with Marcelo hitting the post for Madrid and both goalkeepers making a number of vital interventions.

Malaga reclaimed fourth spot with a 3-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano.

Weligton gave Manuel Pellegrini's side the lead but Piti levelled for the host from the penalty spot.

Former Real Madrid forward Julio Baptista scored his first goal in 18 months to restore Malaga's lead early in the second half before Pedro Morales secured all three points with a wonderful goal.

In the evening's late game Levante won its first league match since January with a 1-0 home triumph over Sevilla.

Ruben struck the winner five minutes before half-time as Levante leap-frogged above Sevilla into 10th.

The 33-year-old France defender is included in Barcelona's squad for its Spanish league game at Celta Vigo on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).

Abidal was cleared to play last month and played a game with Barcelona's reserve team 10 days ago.

His last appearance for Barcelona's first team was on February 26, 2012.

Abidal underwent surgery to remove a liver tumour in March 2011 and returned to the team at full strength before the end of that season.

He then had to stop playing a second time last spring when doctors determined he needed a liver transplant.

Barcelona is currently missing injured defenders Carles Puyol, Jordi Alba, and Adriano.

Vilanova has spent the past two months in New York undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery on his parotid gland in December, returning to Spain on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old had suffered a relapse after first having a tumour removed from his throat in November 2011.

His return came as a boost to the runaway Primera Division leader, who hold a 13-point lead at the top of the table.

Vilanova was shown in video footage on Barcelona's website helping to orchestrate the late-afternoon session.

Jordi Roura, who has been in charge of the team in Vilanova's absence, said at an earlier press conference that Vilanova would not attend Saturday's (Sunday AEDT) league match away to Celta Vigo.

However the club confirmed that providing Vilanova is well enough, he could be in the Barcelona travelling party for next Tuesday's (Wednesday) UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg at Paris Saint-Germain.

Roura said: "The boss is back and that's always important. It'll be a boost for the squad."

Vilanova has spent the past two months in New York undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery on his parotid gland in December.

The 44-year-old had suffered a relapse after first having a tumour removed from his throat in November 2011.

Reports in Spain suggested he would meet with the first-team squad before the match with second-bottom Celta, although matchday responsibilities will remain with his assistant Jordi Roura.

Vilanova's mere presence is sure to provide a fillip for the players as they embark on another important week, with the trip north west followed by Tuesday's UEFA Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.

"I'm very pleased with his return," said young winger Cristian Tello.

"We need him. He'll ease in to his time with the team. The important thing is that he recovers well.

"His absence has been noticeable because the presence of the head coach is always very important."

Barca will definitely be without Pedro on Saturday - the forward sustained a calf injury not long after scoring the only goal for Spain against France on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT), while Xavi is doubtful because of a hamstring problem.

Due to the international break, Barca's closest challenger Real Madrid has had to endure a fortnight of further speculation surrounding the future of boss Jose Mourinho.

Some reports in England have suggested the Portuguese is close to agreeing a return to Chelsea, while Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has revealed he remains in touch with a man who led the Nerazzurri to an unprecedented treble in 2010.

Mourinho's immediate focus is seeing out the season with Madrid and landing the club a record 10th UEFA Champions League title.

Madrid is 13 points adrift of Barca in the league and midfielder Xabi Alonso admits continental matters are now dominating the players' minds, starting with the first leg of their quarter-final against Galatasaray on Wednesday.

"Nearly all of the fans have told me that we have to go all out to win the Champions League, everyone wants us to win it," said Alonso.

"All Madridistas really want to see the team conquer Europe, they want to see us go all the way and reach the final. But we have a few tough steps to get through for that to happen - the first one is next Wednesday, at our stadium.

"We want to get a good result at home, I am sure that it will be a great game with a great atmosphere."

On Saturday, Madrid visit a Real Zaragoza side a point above the relegation zone with Alonso admitting it could be a tricky encounter.

"Zaragoza are having problems, they are on a bad run," he said.

"Any trip to any stadium is difficult and I do not think that this will be easy."

Madrid's city rivals Atletico will hope to capitalise on any slip-up when it hosts Valencia on Sunday, while fourth-placed Real Sociedad will hopes to extend its remarkable record of one defeat in 18 league games when it goes to Espanyol.

At the bottom, there is a six-way scrap to remain in the top flight.

And with Celta Vigo and Zaragoza facing the top two it may provide a chink of light to the others.

Rock-bottom Deportivo La Coruna was given renewed hope by its win over Celta last time out and has the chance to build on that victory when it visits third-bottom Real Mallorca.

Osasuna and Granada are the other clubs in trouble. Osasuna, in 16th, goes to Real Valladolid and Granada visits Athletic on Monday.

Monday's other game sees Real Betis host Getafe while, on Saturday, Rayo Vallecano hosts Malaga and Sevilla travels to Levante.

The Portuguese coach is currently looking to take the Spanish side to UEFA Champions League glory, having knocked Manchester United out in the last round.

However, speculation continues to link the 50-year-old with a return to Stamford Bridge with interim first-team manager Rafael Benitez set to leave in the northern summer.

Mourinho left Stamford Bridge in 2007 after three-hugely successful seasons and retains a property in London.

His daughter is scheduled to take up a place on a course at Camberwell Art College in the next academic year, further fuelling speculation he is set to return to Chelsea, having now built up a good relationship with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich once again.

While accepting he often does little to defuse the media hype, Mourinho maintains for the short-term he has only one focus.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Mourinho said: "There is a lot of talk. I think people have to understand I can be in London very often because we have a house here, we love it here, our daughter is coming to study in London.

"To be in London is a very normal thing for us. Every time I come, people start immediately to make the connections that I will return.

"I fuel it a little bit. I say every day I love it here, I had a fantastic time here, I will return one day, so to be fair I give a little bit contribute for that speculation.

"(However), at the end of the day I am in Madrid, I am very committed for the club for the rest of season.

"We are in the last eight of the Champions League. We have a (Spanish Cup) final to play against Atletico Madrid.

"People who know me, know that I am professional and at this moment I only think about my job in Real."

Mourinho, though, accepted he felt a return to the Premier League was inevitable.

"One day naturally I have to be back," he added.

"English football, to Chelsea, to another club ... of course Chelsea is in my heart as Inter (Milan) is, one day I have to be back."

As well as the Chelsea job, Mourinho has also been linked with taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, or even replacing Roberto Mancini at Manchester City.

Mourinho, though, remained diplomatic when pressed as to whether he could be heading to the north-west - and even offered words of support for the current beleaguered Chelsea interim manager.

"I think Manchester (United) is Sir Alex's kingdom and I would love that job to be his job forever. Of course it cannot be forever, but for many, many more years," he said.

"In the other chair is Roberto with a contract, so I don't think there is a move over there and I hope everything goes well for everybody, even Benitez (at Chelsea).

"I hope it goes well for him and they finish the season very, very well and I wish for them as I wish for myself - to finish the season well."