Barcelona needs to win if it is to have any hope of keeping the Spanish league title. It is tied with Real Madrid with three games to play, but Madrid has already clinched the tiebreaker (head-to-head play).
The loss to Getafe impacted the league race. Barca players and management came in for harsh criticism from fans and the media, and three days later Barcelona could only tie struggling Real Betis, 1-1, at home. The draw cost Barcelona the La Liga lead.
"In the Getafe game, it was as if they were playing with 24 players, and I only hope that we are like they were on Saturday in the Camp Nou ," said Barca striker Samuel Eto'o.
Real is on a roll, having won eight of its last nine games going into Saturday's match against Deportivo Coruna. Wins in its last three games will clinch the title. David Beckham will be back after missing last week's game against Recreativo Huelva because he was suspended. Real won the game, 3-2, thanks to a late goal by Carlos Roberto.
Sevilla, which plays five-place Real Zaragoza on Sunday, is also in contention, sitting in third place only two points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. Sevilla has already won the UEFA Cup this season and faces Getafe in the final of the Copa del Rey.
"While winning the league is the big prize, finishing second is vital to avoid a difficult pre-season [in the Champions League qualifiers] that would require getting the team together earlier," said Sevilla coach Juande Ramos.
LA LIGA RACE
1. Real Madrid (69 pts.) vs. Dep. Coruna (GolTV, live, Saturday, 2 pm ET)
1. Barcelona (69 pts.) vs. Getafe (GolTV, live, Saturday, 4 pm ET)
3. Sevilla (67 pts.) vs. Real Zaragoza (GolTV, live, Sunday, 3 pm ET)
4. Valencia (67 pts.) vs. Villarreal (GolTV, live, Saturday, noon ET)
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