Barça on the second step of bid for treble

Agence France-Presse

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Barcelona destroyed Athletic Bilbao 4-1 to win the King's Cup on Wednesday and has the chance to make it two titles in five days with a draw at Mallorca and could even be crowned champion without playing should Real Madrid fail to defeat Villarreal on Saturday.

"If we become the champion because Madrid slips up, so much the better," said Carles Puyol. "If they don't, we'll go to Mallorca to win the game as we have done all season."

Pep Guardiola's side is eight points clear of Real with three games left so a point would be enough as it has a superior head-to-head record. Barcelona looked set to win the championship in front of its own fans at Camp Nou last weekend but conceded two late goals in a 3-3 draw with Villarreal.

It now needs a point to get the job done as it goes for an historic treble, with the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27 the final installment.

Real, beaten 3-0 by Valencia last time out, seems to be playing for pride alone, although some of its players are playing for their futures with a summer of change expected.

On Saturday the reigning champion travels to Villarreal, three points off fourth spot, which must win to maintain its Champions League push.

Real Madrid is poised to splash the cash to re-build its team and goalkeeper Iker Casillas has urged the club to raid Valencia for the Spanish trio of Juan Mata, David Villa and David Silva.

"I am not xenophobic but I simply think that players such as Villa, Mata and Silva would fit perfectly at a club like Real," said Casillas.

Valencia is desperate to hang onto its star trio but will probably need the Champions League windfall to keep them and have a make-or-break match on Sunday at rival Atletico Madrid.