Barcelona striker Luis Suárez scores against Real Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adan. (Photo : Getty Images)
Defending champions FC Barcelona (27-5-4, 85 points) is scheduled to face lowly team RCD Espanyol (11-18-7, 40 points) at the Camp Nou this May 8th, Sunday as the 2015-2016 La Liga season comes down to its final two matchdays.
Barcelona started the season intending to win a second consecutive Spanish top flight title. They built a nine-point advantage over all their rivals in the overall standings last month, but a recent three-game losing slide put their title retention hopes in much jeopardy.
They are currently rising up from the said ordeal and are now enjoying a three-game winning streak, but the repercussions are already there as they are tied on points with second-running squad Atletico Madrid and only a point above third-placed team Real Madrid.
This means that every game in the final two matchdays for all three teams will be crucial in crowning this season's champions.
Barça is coming off a routine 2-0 win over a 10-man Real Betis side at the Estadio Benito Villamarín last Saturday, as per Goal.
After a scoreless first half of action which saw Béticos defender Heiko Westermann sent off at the 35th, the Blaugrana scored twice after the restart to keep themselves leading in the title race this season.
Midfielder Ivan Rakitic and striker Luis Suárez scored one goal apiece at the 50th and 81st minutes to lead Luis Enrique's men in the contest.
Meanwhile, Espanyol nipped top seven squad Sevilla FC, 1-0, at their home ground of Estadi Cornellà-El Prat last Sunday, via SkySports.
Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo scored the lone goal of the match at the 52nd minute for manager Constantin Gâlcă's side, which eventually snapped the team's five-game winless skid.
Los Periquitos are now at the 14th spot of the current league table, fighting off a possible demotion to the Segunda Division next season as they are only five points above the bottom three relegation area with still two games left in the season.
The predicted result is a 3-0 rout for Barcelona.
Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez, Neymar
Espanyol starting lineup (4-1-4-1 formation): Sabata; Rober, Alvaro, Roco, R. Duarte; O. Duarte; Gullon, Sanchez, Diop, Asensio; Caicedo
