FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has set his sights on winning six of this season’s final nine La Liga matches to help his side retain the title.
The Catalans are 10 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, whom they host on Saturday, after travelling to struggling Villarreal on Tuesday.
“There are nine games to go and if we win six, we are champions,” Valverde told reporters Monday.
“In the final games of the season, the teams at the bottom always take a lot of points.
“We don’t have to look further than the games this week — Celta Vigo, Huesca and Rayo Vallecano. They’re all going to do everything they can and we must be prepared for these type of games.”
Villarreal, 17th, sit one point clear of the relegation zone after throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 2-3 at Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Valverde said his team’s priority is to win La Liga, rather than the UEFA Champions League.
They face Manchester United in the first leg of the quarter-finals on April 10.
“Historically when Barca have won the UEFA Champions League, they’ve won La Liga too,” explained the coach.
“I know that’s a competition which the fans love, the players and everyone, but the UEFA Champions League can betray you in any game, in 15 bad minutes.
“By contrast, in La Liga, you judge yourself from the first minute to the last of the season. It’s our bread and butter, it’s how you judge yourself each week.”