Real Madrid set to retain title in Spain

BEIJING, April 22 -- Real Madrid players celebrated Sunday's 2-0 victory over Racing Santander as if they had won the title and it seems only a matter of time before they wrap up their 31st league championship.

Sunday's win left Real 10 points clear of second-placed Villarreal and 11 ahead of arch-rival Barcelona with five matches to play.

Real, which has led the table since the early part of the season, could retain the title if it beats Athletic Bilbao next Sunday and Villarreal and Barcelona fail to win their respective matches at Real Betis and Deportivo de La Coruna.

"We are very close to winning the title, we aren't going to deny it," goalkeeper Iker Casillas told reporters after the game. "We aren't letting this league slip out of our grasp and we are only a step away from winning it.

"We are going to finish the season on a high but without getting carried away by any euphoria."

If Real do go on to take the championship it will be the first time that it has achieved back-to-back titles since it won the league five times in a row between 1986 and 1990.

Coach Bernd Schuster, who took charge after Fabio Capello was sacked at the end of last season promising the team would play more attractive football, remained cautious.

"We still have to play the games and so I don't want to evaluate the season just yet," the German told reporters. "We've built a new team with new players and we are all doing our work. No one has given us anything."

Meanwhile, Ronald Koeman's future as Valencia coach is hanging in the balance after a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Athletic Bilbao left his team just two points above the relegation zone with five games to play.

Valencia is expected to hold a board meeting to discuss the future of the 45-year-old Dutchman, who led his side to victory in the Copa del Rey's last week.

"The truth is this defeat didn't enter into our plans," club president Agustin Morera told reporters on Sunday night after the defeat at Bilbao. "But we have to remain calm and consider our options."

Koeman took charge of Valencia last November, signing a 2-1/2 year contract with the club following the sacking of Quique Sanchez Flores.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)