The biggest question coming into week 35 was how Barcelona would recover from their midweek shortcomings against Inter in the Champions League semis. They were also facing one of the hottest home teams in La Liga in Villarreal.

Well that answer came quickly and often as Barcelona showed everyone why they are the best road team in La Liga hands down.  They will also try to improve their home record (tops in La Liga as well) as they host Tenerife midweek.  The ball is now in Real Madrid's court as they will face a tough Osasuna side on Sunday and then head to the Ono Estadi in a match that could decide La Liga.

Lionel Messi continued with his trend of responding when needed.  He continued his trend of not being shut out in more than three consecutive matches.  The Argentine international earned yet another brace and saw his goal total reach 29 for the season.

Xavi scored one of the best goals of the weekend with his freekick and Bojan Krkic proved once again his worth in the starting lineup as he scored yet once again in La Liga.  His performance as of late has started to put Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the bench and possibly out of Catalunya as many speculators are starting to mention the Big Swede's exit as David Villa is in the cards for the Blaugrana.

David Villa was not a factor at Cornellà-El Prat against one of the toughest home teams around.  Instead the big man, Nikola Zigic was the difference maker as Los Che have almost assured themselves of a Champions League spot next season after their win in Catalunya 2-0.  With Sevilla playing on Sunday, Valencia could find themselves anywhere eight points clear of Sevilla with nine points left to dispute.    There should be a likely easy match for the Andalusians as Los Colchoneros will take a reprieve as they prepare for their Europa League final in Hamburg against Fulham. 
 
Relegation race

If the race for the title is red-hot, then what adjectives can be used to describe the race to stave off relegation.   Valladolid had a solid chance to make a serious move, but failed to do so as they played to a scoreless draw against Getafe.  Xerez is still dreaming with a chance to stay in the top flight after they beat Alméria 2-1 thanks to an dramatic injury time goal by Bermejo. 

Tenerife is now starting to give Málaga, Racing, and Zaragoza nightmares.   They were able to beat Racing at home 2-1 and put the Montañeses in the thick of the relagation race. The bad news for the boys from the Canary Islands is that they will head to the Camp Nou on Tuesday.  Zaragoza were able to maintain their distance as they got an important victory over a Deportivo side that has been in free fall since early March. 

Miguel Ángel Lotina's side is now winless in their last ten matches and haven't scored a goal in 449 minutes. 

Barca bounce back from Champions League heartbreak

Barcelona and Real Madrid continue reaching unchartered waters.

Barcelona sleepwalked past Xerez, condemning them to life in the Liga Adelante next season. The ghosts of Villarreal back in the 1998/99 season when the Yellow Submarine beat Barcelona 3-1. Once again, when given a start Jeffren Suarez is given a start up front he responds. Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also got back to their scoring ways as they helped the culé extend their unbeaten streak to 12 matches.  They also equaled last year's total of 87 points and will most likely need to earn all 12 remaining points in order to win their 20th title.  The win also all but assures that Xerez will be in second division as they will be, at best, five points behind with four matches left in the season.  Yet despite this frenetic pace, Barca still aren't able to to shake off Real Madrid.

Los Merengues earned their eighth consecutive win on the road defeating a tough Zaragoza 2-1 and kept pace with the Blaugrana.  Raúl and Kaká both were able to score for Real Madrid in a match that was noted more for its rough play more than its skill. Kaká was the difference maker for Madrid as he was fed a brilliant pass from Cristiano Ronaldo to beat Roberto and score the game-winner.   Los Blancos are now one road win away from equaling Barcelona's win record from last year.

Valencia continue to lock up third place as they defeated a Deportivo side in free fall 1-0. Los Ches did little to win, but it was enough as David Villa scored the only goal of the match.

So with their Zaragoza losing and Málaga heading Mallorca, the stage was set for Tenerife to get out of relegation as they play a distracted and erratic Atlético side. Unfortunately for Los Chicarreros Atlético were clicking on all cylinders and Salvio scored a brace to damper Tenerife's hopes.

The most exciting ending of the weekend took place at the Ono Estadi. Victor Obinna scored in the 86th minute to give Málaga the lead, but Mallorca scored the equalizer on a controversial play where
 
Saturday
Barcelona 3-1 Xerez
BAR: Jeffren, Henry (25'), Ibrahimovic (55')
XER: Bermejo (26')

Zaragoza 1-2 Real Madrid
ZAR: Colunga (61')
RMA: Raúl (50'), Kaká (82')

Valencia 1-0 Deportivo
VAL: Villa (33' pk)

Sunday
Racing 1-2 Villarreal
RAC: Canales (38')
VIL: Godin (70'), Nilmar (83')
Sporting - Valladolid
VLL: Manucho (80'), Javi Baraja (90'+3')

Mallorca 1-1 Málaga
MLL: Aduriz (90')
MAL: Obinna (86')

Almería 0-1 Espanyol
ESP: Luis García (55')

Atlético 3-1 Tenerife
ATM: Salvio (9',30'), Aguero (78')
TEN: Martínez (61')

Getafe - Sevilla

Monday
Osasuna - Athletic

Standings

Positions
2010-11 Champions League:  x-Barcelona, x-Real Madrid
2010-11 Champions League qualifiers: Valencia, Mallorca,
2010-11 Europa League:  Villarreal, y-Sevilla, y-Atlético
Relegation: Tenerife, Valladolid, Xerez
Promotion: Real Sociedad, Levante, Cartagena

x- clinched berth
y- Copa del Rey finalist

Pichichi Race
Lionel Messi BAR             27
Gonzalo Higuaín RMA      25
David Villa VAL                 21
Cristiano Ronaldo RMA    20
Diego Forlán ATM            17
Zlatan Ibrahimovic BAR   16
Fernando Llorente ATB     13

La Liga week 34 wrap

Gonzalo Higuaín celebrates after Arbeloa's goal vs. Atlético Madrid (AP)

Things remain the same in La Liga as Real Madrid answered Barcelona by winning the capital derby 3-2 against Atlético Madrid. After falling behind in the first half courtesy of a goal by José Antonio Reyes, Los Merengues settled down and were able to answer back with goals by Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, and Gonzalo Higuaín.

The Argentine international scored the eventual game-winner after Tiago made a terrible blunder and the bounce fell in front of the Madrid forward and slotted it past David De Gea. Forlán's penalty kick made it 3-2 but that would be as close as Los Colchoneros would get and their winless streak against their city rivals would reach 11 years; 20 years since they last beat Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Barcelona in the meantime won in Mallorca as they beat the islanders 1-0. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the hero offensively as he pounced on a rebound from Dudu Aouate to score the only goal of the match.

Zaragoza scored the biggest upset of the week trouncing third-place Valencia at La Rosaleda 3-0. Carlos Diogo scored the first goal of the match hitting a scorcher from outside the box beating César Sánchez. Javier Arizmendi and Jiri Jarosik would round out the scoring for Los Maños.

Zaragoza would also get some help as Valladolid lost to an inspired cellar-dweller Xerez and Tenerife snuck out a point from Málaga.

Meanwhile, in some Monday Night Fútbol action, Athletic came out of San Mamés with a big win against Racing Santander in the most exciting match of the round. Fernando Llorente earned a brace and increase his season tally to 12. Racing would fight back but it would not be enough as the Basques now find themselves just two points from a spot in the Champions League and will have to look for more points at the Nou Camp against historic rivals Barcelona.

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