Luis Enrique doubts Malaga can provide Barcelona favours against Real Madrid
Wednesday 26 April 2017 23:52, UK
Luis Enrique has laughed at suggestions Malaga can beat Real Madrid on the final day of La Liga and help Barcelona to the title.
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona thrashed bottom-club Osasuna 7-1 at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night to temporarily move three points ahead of rivals Real.
However, Zinedine Zidane's side later won 6-2 against Deportivo to move level on points with Barca, meaning the Catalan club need Real to drop points in one of their remaining five fixtures to have any chance of winning the league.
Real will face Malaga on the last day of the campaign with head coach, and former Real player, Michel having talked up his 'Madridista' loyalty in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero this week, which left Luis Enrique hinting he was less than impressed.
Asked if Malaga could provide an upset by beating Real, Luis Enrique replied: "If my grandmother had wheels, she would be a bicycle."
Enrique rested several of his regular starters, including Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba for the game against Osasuna following gruelling matches against Juventus and Real Madrid, and before the weekend's derby at Espanyol.
Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes, Denis Suarez and Paco Alcacer were given a chance to impress and Gomes and Alcacer, in particular, took it with each getting his name on the scoresheet twice in the rout.
"Today was a chance for players who figure less. The game started well for us and we were in control but a mistake in the second half let Osasuna into the game," Luis Enrique told the club's official website.
"We maintained our intensity and rhythm and we fixed things quickly.
"We have to be aware of the need to pick up points. From the month of May we will have time to recover and there are lots of positives today."
Javier Mascherano also scored his first Barcelona goal in his 320th match for the club, having signed almost seven years ago, dispatching a penalty after being beckoned forward to take it by the Nou Camp support.
"The fans behind the goal were chanting for Mascherano to take it. I am happy for him - he is a key player for the club and he has shown that down the years," added Luis Enrique.
Mascherano gave in to popular demand after Ivan Rakitic decided not to take the spot kick.
He said: "At first I tried to get out of it but under pressure from my team-mates and the crowd I decided to take it on.
"It would have been a fun moment to remember in years to come had I missed it. I wasn't sure about it at all but it was difficult to say no to my team-mates."
