Barca fans celebrate as team close in on league title
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-09 20:37

Over 1,000 fans greeted Barcelona with chants of "Champions, Champions" at the city's airport on Sunday night after a 2-0 victory over Valencia left the club on the verge of wrapping up their first league title in six years.

The emphatic victory over last season's champions means that Barca will be able to wrap up the title next Saturday if they win their game against struggling Levante or match the result of Real Madrid's earlier fixture against third-placed Sevilla.

Barca stormed to their emphatic win at the Mestalla thanks to devastating first-half finishes from Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o who took his tally to 23 for the season with his classy strike on the half hour.

"We're still not champions yet, but we deserve to be," said Barca midfielder Xavi. "The team gave one of their best performances of the season and we stamped our authority on the league with this win.

"We showed tremendous mental strength out there and the sooner we become champions the better."

Barca striker Eto'o, who was discarded by Real Madrid at the start of the season after club president Florentino Perez said there was no room for him in the team, could hardly control his delight at the fact that his new club now had one hand on the league trophy.

"Let's see what they make of this from Madrid," he said. "They said we'd lose this match. But the destination of the league title is now clearer than the (all-white) Real Madrid shirt."

KEEP FIGHTING

Valencia's veteran Italian defender Amedeo Carboni, who was an integral part of the team that won the title in 2002 and 2004, paid tribute to his side's likely successors as Spanish champions.

"The lesson of the match was simple and it was clear to see the difference between the two teams," said the 40-year-old left back. "Barca are a great team -- the best in Spain -- and we found that out to our cost today."

Real Madrid, who are now almost certain to complete a second successive season without winning a major trophy, insisted they would not be throwing in the towel just yet.

"We are going to keep on fighting while it is mathematically possible for us to win the title," said club vice-president Emilio Butragueno.

"It's true that it has now become very difficult ... but for respect for our fans we aren't going to give up our dreams of taking the title."

Club captain Raul, who turned in his best performance of the season when he led Real to a seventh consecutive league victory with a crushing 5-0 win over lowly Racing Santander on Saturday, said his side could be pleased with their late season form.

"We are going to be giving everything we've got in the last three games. Whatever happens, if we win them all we can be proud of ourselves because we will have finished the season with our heads held high."

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