BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona is looking to city rival Espanyol for a favor to celebrate another Spanish league title.
Espanyol hosted second-place Real Madrid later Sunday with the visitors needing a win to prolong the title fight for another week at least. Anything less than a Madrid victory would hand Barcelona the title with four rounds to spare.
Barcelona opened a 14-point lead over Madrid with a 2-1 win at Osasuna on Saturday. It next hosts bitter rival Madrid in a La Liga “clásico” next weekend, when it could clinch the title without relying on help from others.
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Rayo Vallecano prepared for its Conference League semifinal against Strasbourg with a 2-0 win at Getafe.
Rayo coach Iñigo Pérez was able to rest many of his first-choice players with the Conference League semifinal second leg on Thursday in mind. Rayo won the first leg 1-0 at home.
Sergio Camello and Randy Nteka scored in each half for the visitors, while Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla also saved a penalty, to lift the team from the Madrid district of Vallecas to 11th ahead of the rest of the round.
Celta Viga boosted its hopes of European qualification with a 3-1 win at home over Elche that left the promoted team among a host of clubs still in danger of relegation.
Celta moved above Getafe into sixth.
Also Sunday, Real Betis hosted last-placed Oviedo.
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