Barca keep up the chase as Clasico looms

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola preferred to focus on his team’s Champions League semi-final against Chelsea rather than next weekend’s crucial El Clasico, but labelled his side’s chances of retaining the Primera Division title “a little less impossible” following Saturday night’s 2-1 win at Levante.

The Catalan club looked out of the title race when they slipped 12 points behind Real Madrid last month.

But, while the leaders have dropped points against Malaga, Villarreal and Valencia in recent games, Barca have kept plugging away, and on Saturday night clinched their 11th straight victory in La Liga to swiftly reduce the gap back to four points after Jose Mourinho’s side had beaten Sporting Gijon 3-1.