MADRID, May 5 (Xinhua) -- There are just three rounds of matches remaining in the Spanish La Liga and some questions are set to be answered very quickly indeed. Here are four of them:
1) Will 'Plan B'work well again for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid know that if they keep on winning between now and the end of the season, they will end it as Champions, and it is hard to predict anything other than a win away to Granada on Saturday night.
The side, now coached by Tony Adams, has lost the four games where he has been in charge, and last weekend saw them mathematically condemned to second-division football next season.
It would be wrong to place too much blame on Adams, however, as Granada were all but doomed when he took over, and he has spent his time in charge giving a chance to youngsters and to footballers who will be with the club next season.
Given Granada's situation, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane will have faith that his plan-B squad of Alvaro Morata, Marco Asensio, Mateo Kovacic and Lucas Vazquez will be able to do as good a job as they did in their recent wins in Leganes, Gijon and La Coruna allowing Ronaldo and company to relax ahead of next Wednesday's Champions League return leg against Atletico Madrid.
2) Can Barca keep the pressure on Madrid in title race?
With just three games left this season (four for Real Madrid) any slip up in the title race between Barcelona and Real Madrid would be potentially fatal to their hopes.
With one extra game played, all Barca can do is keep on winning and hope that someone defeats Real Madrid between now and May 21st, but to have any chance of the title, Barca have to fulfil their part of the bargain and that may be easier said than done.
The visit of fifth-placed Villarreal could well be the biggest test remaining for the Catalans, given that the visitors also need a win to ensure they finish in the top-six and qualify for next season's Europa League. Indeed, a win for Villarreal combined with dropped points for Sevilla at home to Real Sociedad would also give them a real chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Although some have questioned the work of Villarreal coach Fran Escriba, only Atletico Madrid have conceded less goals this season than his side, and that should be a warning to Messi and company that nothing less than their best will do.
3) Las Palmas the 'perfect'rivals for Sporting Gijon?
Sporting Gijon coach Joan Ferrer 'Rubi' made it clear what his side have to do when they entertain Las Palmas at Saturday lunchtime.
"Anything other than a win will mean we are relegated to the second division," commented Rubi, whose side are third from bottom, six points behind their nearest rival, Leganes.
The pressure is very much on Sporting, but the fact is that if Rubi were able to choose a rival 'a la carte' for this weekend Las Palmas would probably be top of the menu.
The side coached by Quique Setien have spent several weeks in limbo, unable to qualify for Europe and in no danger of relegation. Since Setien announced two months ago that he was leaving at the end of the season, their form has been disastrous with five consecutive away defeats and 21 goals conceded in their last seven games.
If Sporting can't beat them, then they deserve to go down.
4) Is away form vital in the battle for Europe?
Villarreal, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, who respectively lie 5th, 6th and 7th in the league. They are fighting for two sure places in next season's Europa League with the side finishing seventh to be left hoping Barcelona win the King's Cup to be assured of their spot. All three sides are away this weekend, with Villarreal in the Camp Nou, Athletic away to local rivals Alaves and Real Sociedad facing Sevilla.
The teams able to take an away win this weekend will have a big advantage in their quest to play in Europe this weekend.
