Barcelona target Real’s record

MADRID – Back on track in Europe, Barcelona will return to chasing history in the Spanish league with Real Madrid’s point record still in reach.

Friday, March 15, 2013
Barcelona players celebrate with Lionel Messi after he scored his team's second goal against AC Milan. Net photo.

SaturdayR Sociedad     vs     Valladolid        17:00 Getafe     vs     Athletic        19:00    Real Madrid     vs     Mallorca        21:00    Valencia     vs     Betis        23:00    SundayMalaga     vs     Espanyol        13:00    Sevilla     vs     R Zaragoza        18:00    Osasuna     vs     Atletico        20:00    Granada     vs     Levante        22:00    Barcelona     vs     Rayo        MADRID – Back on track in Europe, Barcelona will return to chasing history in the Spanish league with Real Madrid’s point record still in reach.Barcelona are well on their way to dethroning Madrid for the league title with a 13-point lead with 11 games to go, but the Catalan club will need a near perfect run-in to surpass Madrid’s milestone of 100 points from last season.Barcelona enter Sunday’s home game against Rayo Vallecano with 71 points, meaning they must earn 29 of 33 to match Madrid’s feat from last season.After a bad run of results including two losses to Madrid, Lionel Messi helped Barcelona by scoring twice in an emphatic 4-0 win over AC Milan on Tuesday to become the first team to overturn a 2-0 away loss from the first leg in the Champions League."It was one of the best games I have ever played,” Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said. "It was the game that we all needed.”Madrid host an improving Mallorca on Saturday clinging to a one-point lead over crosstown rival Atletico Madrid, who visit Osasuna on Sunday.Madrid ended Barcelona’s three-year reign of the domestic league last season, and by collecting the most points ever. Barcelona, already eliminated by Madrid from the Copa del Rey semifinals, now have the added motivation to finish out the season in record-breaking fashion.For Rayo to have a chance they will have to find a way to stop Messi.The Argentina forward leads the league with 40 goals and is on a record streak of scoring in 17 straight league matches, shattering the previous mark of 10.