If FC Barcelona want to mathematically assure the BBVA Primera Liga title this coming weekend, it looks as if they are going to have to do it the hard way.

With an eight point lead over Real Madrid and a game in hand, it would be enough for Barcelona should Real Madrid fail to win away to Espanyol on Saturday night.

However, although Real Madrid's game in Cornella el Prat is their last game before the Copa del Rey final against Atletico the following Friday, Jose Mourinho's side have been in good form of late, as shown by their 6-2 win at home to Malaga on Wednesday. That win came despite the fans in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium booing Mourinho for his probable departure from the club and his continued decision to leave goalkeeper, Iker Casillas out of his side.

Espanyol have lost two consecutive games, which appears to have put paid to their chances of European football after an impressive second half to the season under coach Javier Aguirre.

Espanyol had climbed to within touching distance of a top eight spot, but rather than press on for European qualification that team seems to have taken its foot off the gas, which must raise questions about their motivation.

That means that Barca will probably need to win in the Vicente Calderon away to Atletico, who on Wednesday assured at least a third place finish. It remains to be seen whether or not Atletico will rest players for the cup final, but everything points to them fielding a strong side with strikers Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao providing a real challenge for a leaky Barca defense.

Barcelona meanwhile will look to Leo Messi, as they so often have done, to provide the inspiration and the fact is that Messi does not only provide goals for his side, he appears to inspire his team-mates to greater heights.

While the title is all but assured, there are other issues at stake, such as the battle for fourth place and Real Sociedad need to bounce back at home to Granada after their surprise defeat away to Getafe. Granada meanwhile have won their last two games to give themselves breathing space close to the bottom of the table.

Real Sociedad's main rival for fourth is Valencia, who face a tricky trip to face Rayo Vallecano at midday on Sunday. Rayo still have hopes of playing in next season's Europa League, although they are missing the injured Leo Baptistao.

Betis are also dreaming of Europe and a win at home to Celta will help their cause as well as virtually condemning Celta to relegation. Meanwhile Sevilla will be hopeful of improving their case away to a Malaga side that appears to be in both sporting and administrative freefall following their departure from the Champions League.

Relegation is also an issue and Athletic Club Bilbao will be all but safe if they can win at home to bottom of the table Mallorca in the penultimate game to be held in the San Mames Stadium.

Osasuna need to recapture their home form against a Getafe that lose gas away from home, while a lot of attention will be focused on the game between Levante and Zaragoza. Zaragoza have won their last two games to climb out of the bottom three, while suspicions have been publically raised over Levante's displays in recent home defeats to relegation threatened Deportivo la Coruna and Celta. Another "surprise" defeat would be difficult for the club to convincingly explain away.

Finally Deportivo will look to extend their unbeaten run to seven games away to Valladolid, who are coached by former Deportivo player, Miroslav Djukic.