Ernesto Valverde rejects Barcelona's claim to the title of the weekend

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde rejected suggestions that the La Liga race would be over if his team beat Atletico Madrid in the battle for the first two places at Nou Camp.

A win for the defending champions would allow them to have 11 points ahead of Atletico, second with seven games to play.

For a team that has lost only three times in their last 75 league games, it seems unlikely that Barca are letting out such an advantage, but Valverde takes nothing for granted.

Star striker Lionel Messi (second from right) and his teammates in Barcelona trained Friday

He said at a press conference quoted by the Spanish press: "The gap is not definitive until it is so mathematically."

"For many people, the league was decided in January. Then you lose a match and the league is back. We must continue until the end.

When asked if a draw would be a decent result, Valverde added: "If you lose 2-0 in the space of three minutes, then yes, a draw is a good one." result.

"But our intention is to win. Of course, anything can happen in the game, but we try to win it.

"The three points are very important for both teams."

Barca is still firmly on the lookout for highs this season. On Wednesday, they will face Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford.

Messi and Cie face Atletico Madrid, rival of La Liga, Saturday night at Nou Camp

Valverde, however, does not let this match disturb his thought for the visit of Atletico.

The boss of Barca, whose team match against Valencia in the Copa del Rey final next month, said: "Tomorrow's game is of vital importance and we will have four days ( before playing United).

"The best way to prepare for the Champions League is to have a great match against Atletico."

Lionel Messi has been training with his teammates on Friday, but it remains to be seen how much he will be involved this weekend after leaving the bench to help Barca save a 4-4 draw at Villarreal in the middle of week.

The Catalan club will be deprived of several players, including winger Ousmane Dembele. Valverde does not know if the French international will be able to face United.

Barca boss, Ernesto Valverde, refuses to agree that a win on Saturday would seal the title

Arturo Vidal is also serving a suspension, while goaltenders Jasper Cillessen and Rafinha should be out again.

Despite what Valverde could say about the title race, Atletico will know that his bid to be crowned champion for the second time only since 1996 will end realistically if he fails to beat the Barca.

This is something they have not managed to do in Liga since Diego Simeone took office in December 2011.

Simeone called on his team to show their true colors against the championship leaders on Saturday night.

The Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal will not be showing for the Barca against Atletico since he is suspended

"The fact that we have never won at Nou camp really makes me very optimistic," he said on the club's official website.

"If we win tomorrow and we do not win the next games, it does not matter. Tomorrow we have to show the identity of this team. & # 39;

Simeone will have few attack options at Nou Camp.

Diego Costa will miss a muscle problem while Alvaro Morata is injured at the ankle during the home win against Girona on Tuesday night. Thomas Lemar is also absent due to a muscle injury.

Barca defender Gerard Piqué holds his head during Friday's training