La Liga title race: How can Barcelona win La Liga against Real Madrid?

BARCELONA are edging closer to winning La Liga but what exactly do they need to do to be crowned champions?

La Liga: Lionel Messi's Barcelona are closing in on the title

With seven games left of the season, Barcelona top La Liga on 79 points, having yet to lose a league game all season.

Atletico Madrid sit in second on 68 points, Valencia on 65 and champions Real Madrid an incredible 15 points behind leaders Barcelona in fourth.

Following Barcelona’s shock exit at the hands of Roma in the Champions League in midweek, Ernesto Valverde’s side will be keen to wrap things up in the coming weeks in La Liga.

Atletico Madrid are currently still in the Europa League, while Real Madrid booked their spot in the Champions League semi-finals in dramatic fashion against Juventus.

And with an El Clasico still to take place before the end of the season, Barca could be celebrating their La Liga triumph against their arch rivals.

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Diego Simeone;s Atletico Madrid are pushing Barcelona all the way

So how can Barcelona win the title against Real Madrid?

If Barca win their next three matches they will only need a draw against Real Madrid at the Nou Camp to be crowned champions.

Barca would then have 89 points - the highest Atletico can potentially reach.

Unlike the Premier League, La Liga separate sides level on points by their head to head record instead of goal difference.

Having drawn 1-1 in the capital in October, Barca ran out 1-0 winners in the reverse fixture last month.

Can Barca win La Liga before El Clasico?

Yes, they can.

Atletico have four games between now and El Clasico and should Diego Simeone’s side fail to win one of them, Barca can become champions against Deportivo La Coruna on April 28/29.

Barca will also be crowned champions sooner than that if they win their next two games and Atletico fail to win theirs.

Valverde's men play on April 17, 48 hours before Atletico's trip to Real Sociedad and will be crowned champions if the Catalans have won their two games and Atletico only draw.

Real will be out of the title race mathematically if Barca win their next two games.

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Real Madrid have endured a nightmare defence of their La Liga title

Remaining fixtures

April 14

Barcelona vs Valencia

April 15

Atletico Madrid vs Levante

Malaga vs Real Madrid

April 17

Celta Vigo vs Barcelona

April 18

Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao

Valencia vs Getafe

April 19

Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid

April 21

Celta Vigo vs Valencia

April 22

Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis

April 29

Alaves vs Atletico Madrid

Deportivo vs Barcelona

Real Madrid vs Leganes

Valencia vs Eibar

May 6

Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol

Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Villarreal vs Valencia

May 9

Barcelona vs Villarreal

Sevilla vs Real Madrid

May 13

Getafe vs Atletico Madrid

Girona vs Valencia

Levante vs Barcelona

Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo

May 20

Atletico Madrid vs Eibar

Barcelona vs Real Sociedad

Valencia vs Deportivo

Villarreal vs Real Madrid