Analysis: Four things we learned in Spain's matchday 34

MADRID, May 5 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona hosts Real Madrid next weekend in the fourth Clasico of the season, with the Catalans holding a four-point lead over Madrid with four games remaining. Here are some things we learned this weekend in Spain as the season draws to a dramatic conclusion.

1. Barca looks exhausted and midweek game won't help

Although Real Madrid would love to also be in the semifinals of the Champions League, it's also true that Barca's semifinal against Inter Milan is draining an already tired side, while Real Madrid was able to rest last week and will have all next week to prepare for next weekend's decisive match, which looks likely to decide this season's league title.

Barca coach Hansi Flick made sweeping changes as his team scraped past already relegated Real Valladolid on Saturday, but with his side losing at the break, players such as Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha all played more minutes than he would have wanted ahead of a decisive week both in Europa and in La Liga.

2. Defensive injuries will worry Ancelotti

Real Madrid looked to be cruising against Celta Vigo as Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe turned on the style in the first 50 minutes on Sunday.

However, Madrid's defensive injuries and the lack of a holding midfielder, with Aurelien Tchouameni forced to play as a central defender, came back to bite them in the closing stages as Celta fought back to 3-2 and almost sneaked an equalizer.

Mbappe and company will always score goals, but with Antonio Rudiger, Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy all injured, Barca will think they should also find the net against Real Madrid.

3. Champions League battle gets tighter

Villarreal won comfortably at home to Osasuna on Saturday night to temporarily close the gap on fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao to two points, while Real Betis netted two late goals away to Espanyol to keep the pressure on Athletic on Sunday evening.

Athletic did well to overcome the tiredness of Thursday's Europa League defeat at home to Manchester United to draw 0-0 in the Basque derby away to Real Sociedad last Sunday, but its lead over Villarreal is now just three points, while Betis is another point behind.

Five sides from Spain will play in next season's Champions League and Villarreal may have the easiest end to the season in what has become a very close race.

4. Relegation candidates crawling forwards

The struggle to avoid joining Valladolid in next season's second division continues to be two from five, with Sevilla, Alaves, Girona, Las Palmas and Leganes all striving to avoid the drop.

Las Palmas suffered a painful defeat to Valencia on Saturday, which allowed Alaves to edge a point closer to safety with a valuable draw at home to third-placed Atletico Madrid.

Sevilla and Leganes drew 2-2, which leaves Leganes second from bottom, and while Sevilla has failed to win any of three matches since Joaquin Caparros replaced Garcia Pimienta, the point leaves the club with six points more than Las Palmas, with just 12 to play for.

Elsewhere, Girona has a tough game at home to Mallorca on Monday night. ■