Finalists poised to cross the finish line

UEFA Champions League finalists FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC will look to put their domestic titles to bed this weekend, with both clubs needing just a point from their meetings with RCD Mallorca and Arsenal FC to be confirmed as champions.

Two chances
Josep Guardiola's side – who won the Copa del Rey in midweek – have two chances to take the Liga title. They will be champions without kicking a ball if Real Madrid CF fail to win at Villarreal CF on Saturday night, but if that does not happen they need just a draw the following day at Mallorca to get the party started in earnest. Having spent four years with the Barralets before joining Barça in 2004, striker Samuel Eto'o needs no introduction to Sunday's opponents, and says that with Guardiola in charge, "winning the Liga is just a matter of time."

Pep talk
"With him in charge we have a tremendous team," said the Cameroonian, who already has 28 Liga goals to his name this season. "We play while Pep spends hours preparing for games; the man doesn't sleep. But there are many other people involved: those who prepare the videos, the boot cleaners and the ground staff, everyone has a part to play. Pep points the way and the rest of us accept his directions and trust in him."

Arsenal game
United could beat Barcelona, who they meet on 27 May in Rome, to it. A draw on Saturday afternoon in their game at home against Arsenal, the side they knocked out of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, will give the English titleholders an unassailable lead over second-placed Liverpool FC at the top of the Premier League. "We'll approach the game the way we always approach a game," said Sir Alex Ferguson. "We still have a job to do. It is against a very good Arsenal side – I don't take any notice of what is written, they are a very good side."