Barca on brink of locking down another La Liga championship

MADRID - Barcelona is closing in on its eighth La Liga title in 11 years after Clement Lenglet and Jordi Alba both scored in a 2-1 triumph over Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Barca only has to beat Alaves on Tuesday and Levante on Saturday to be crowned champion at Camp Nou, while three points against Alaves will be enough on its own if Atletico Madrid loses to Valencia on Wednesday.

Whether in three days or seven, it is now surely only a matter of when rather than if Ernesto Valverde's side successfully defends the trophy, despite Atletico keeping the gap to nine points after it edged Eibar earlier on Saturday.