12/04/2005
Barca still on course for title says president Laporta
Barcelona are confident they will win the
Spanish title despite their weekend defeat by arch-rivals Real Madrid,
Barca president Joan Laporta said.
"The victory gave meaning to Real's otherwise inconsistent season,"
Laporta told TV station TV3. "But this league (title) is ours as I said
when we only had four points advantage. Now we have six."
Real's thrilling 4-2 win narrowed Barcelona's lead in the Primera Liga
to six points with seven games to play and Barcelona have conceded seven
goals in their last two games.
However, Ronaldinho's late goal at the Bernabeu means Barca edge Real
5-4 in a head-to-head should the two clubs finish level on points.
"We shouldn't see things negatively. Everyone would want to be in this
position, with a six-point advantage and seven games remaining. The fans
should relax because we will win if we do things well," Laporta said.
Real president Florentino Perez talked up the capital club's chances of
making the most of Barca's slip-ups as they look to avoid their second
consecutive season without a major trophy.
"If we win the seven remaining games we will win the league," Perez told
Real's official website.
"Some people had us dead and buried a month ago, but Madrid knows that
it has the responsibility to fight until the very last game. I will
never write off our chances when there are points still in play."
Real's run-in appears harder with trips to Sevilla and Real Zaragoza,
and home games against Villarreal and city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona also have to play high-flying Villarreal and face their
sternest test away to last year's champions Valencia.