Madrid Looking For Atleti Favour, But Will They Get It?

With Barcelona still two points ahead of Real Madrid, Real Madrid looking for fierce rivals Atletico Madrid to beat the Catalans at the Vicente Calderon to aide their title bid.

The title race in Spain is going down to the wire, with Real Madrid piling the pressure on Barcelona. The two teams are separated by just two points with five rounds to go, so one Barcelona defeat would do for Madrid if they win all their own games.

However, Los Merengues have the tougher of the clashes on the menu, as they must visit in form Recreativo and Zaragoza - both competing for European berths - and host Deportivo, while Barcelona have a trip to face Atletico Madrid as the only real danger.

Rather expectedly, Madrid's attention is on the clash at El Calderon in two weeks' time, in hope that their city rivals can hand them a much needed boost.

There is also some skepticism about Atleti's intentions, though, particularly after a poll revealed that Atleti fans remain divided on whether they would rather lose to Barcelona, or win but see Real Madrid lift the title.

The controversy has forced Atleti president Enrique Cerezo to declare that Atleti would remain focussed on themselves, and not on the title race if they were not involved.

"If Atletico Madrid do not win La Liga, then it is the same to me whoever does," he said. "It is impossible that we can win it, so all I care about is to beat Getafe [at the weenend]."