Atleti Game Not Definitive For Valverde

Ernesto Valverde says victory over second-placed Atletico Madrid on Saturday won’t guarantee Barcelona La Liga glory this season.

The Blaugrana could move 11 points clear at the top of the table with seven games left to play if they can overcome Diego Simeone’s challengers at the Nou Camp.

Atletico have yet to beat Barca since Simeone’s appointment as manager in 2011 and have struggled, at times, away from home this season.

Given Valverde’s men have only lost twice all season in the league, it would seem unlikely Atleti could catch them if they go down to defeat on Saturday but Valverde is taking nothing for granted.

The former Athletic Bilbao boss believes there will be no cause for major celebrations if they were to beat Los Rojiblancos, especially with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United to come on Wednesday.

“It (the gap) is not definitive until it is mathematically so,” he said. “For many people, the league was decided in January.

Then you lose a game and the league is back on. We need to carry on until the end.” Asked if a draw would be a decent result, Valverde added: “If you’re losing 2-0 with three minutes to go, then yes a draw is a great result. “But our intention is to win.

Of course, anything can then happen in the game but we’re setting out to win it.” “The three points are very important for both teams.”