Barcelona celebrates; Madrid clubs focus on Champions League

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — With Barcelona celebrating yet another Spanish league title, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are already looking forward to an even bigger prize.

After pushing Barcelona to the end in the Spanish league, the Madrid clubs quickly switched their focus to the Champions League final in two weeks in Milan.

One will return home as the European champion, the other will end the season without a title.

But no matter what happens in Italy, both teams will take solace by having finished the league with their heads up, taking the title fight to the final days and making Barcelona work hard for the trophy.

Real Madrid won its final 12 games to finish only one point behind Barcelona, while Atletico won seven of its last eight, finishing three points behind. They were denied the trophy by a late charge by Barcelona, which won five straight to secure its second consecutive title, and sixth in eight seasons.

Although neither Madrid team won the league, fans were more pleased than frustrated when it was all over this weekend. And it didn’t hurt as much to watch Barcelona celebrate knowing there’s still a chance to win soccer’s top club competition.

”We did what we had to do and we’re now thinking about our last remaining game,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. ”Now it’s important to rest up, spend a few days with the family and forget about football. We’ll …

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