Real Madrid
defender Miguel Torres believes his side will be crowned Primera
Division champions if they win their final eight games of the
season, even though they are currently six points behind leaders
Barcelona.
Madrid trailed Barca by 12 points after losing 2-0 at the Nou Camp
in what was Juande Ramos' first league game in charge back in
December, but since then the capital club - without always looking
convincing - have won 14 out of 15 matches in La Liga and drawn the
other.
That may only have halved the difference to Barca, who have been
enjoying a similarly formidable run of results, but Torres feels if
his side do not drop any more points from now until the end of the
season they will be celebrating a third successive league
title.
"Yes (I think we will), but it will be difficult," said the
23-year-old. "We are aware that, despite not playing well, we can
still celebrate something at the end of the season.
"We need to close on Barca a little more to make them really feel
the pressure. At the moment I think they are focused on themselves
and playing well and are not really thinking about the great second
half of the season we are having."
The key match looks increasingly like being the return clash
between the top two at the Bernabeu, which will take place at the
start of next month.
However, that game is not the only one Madrid and Barca will need
to be concerned about, as both sides also have to face high-flying
rivals Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia before the end of the
season.
This weekend's fixture could prove crucial as well, with Madrid
travelling to third-bottom Recreativo Huelva and Barca going to
Getafe, a club the Catalan giants have found life tough against in
recent years.
Last season Getafe beat Barca 2-0 at home and then drew 0-0 at the
Nou Camp, while in the previous campaign the two sides drew 0-0 in
the league at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez while Getafe also staged
that amazing recovery in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, winning 4-0
at home after trailing Barca 5-2 from the first leg.
Torres is hoping their neighbours can produce something similar
this time around.
"In the last few years they have suffered a lot in Getafe and, as
well as that, they will be a little bit worn out from their
Champions League game. We hope that they (Getafe) give us a hand on
Saturday," said Torres in Marca.
