Madrid, April 21:

Barcelona can win their second successive Spanish title if the results go their way on Sunday. The mathematics are simple. If Barca’s nearest challengers Valencia drop points at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday then a victory at Sevilla later in the day will see the Catalan club home with four games still to go.

Only a victory will do for Barcelona as Valencia may be 11 points adrift of the runaway Spanish league leaders but the 2004 champions actually have a better head-to-head record. Nevertheless, confidence abounds among the Barca squad in the wake of their memorable 1-0 win over AC Milan in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

“If we can become La Liga champions in Seville, why wait?” said leading scorer Samuel Eto’o. “Everybody, the players, the fans, wants us to lift the league. We all know that we are going to a ground where a victory might be difficult.”

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will have to reshape his defence once again as Oleguer Presas suffered a left thigh strain against Milan and Belletti is expected to replace him at right back.

Sixth-placed Sevilla, who have only lost two games at home this season, will not hand three points to Barcelona on a plate. They still have an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Recent history though, favours Barcelona. Barca have not lost on their last four visits to Sevilla’s Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. However, a victory for Valencia in Bilbao will postpone any championship celebrations for at least a week.

Six draws in their last eight games has seen Real Madrid slip to third, two points behind Valencia, but the 29-times Spanish champions will feel optimistic that they can get back to winning ways against Malaga.