Real will pocket their 31st Spanish championship if Villarreal fail to beat Getafe on Sunday or they win their match at Osasuna.

Real's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder is confident the team will not have to wait any longer to celebrate the title.

"I want to win the league against Osasuna and I'm sure we are going to do it," he said earlier this week. "Villarreal aren't going to slip up but neither are we and so we will be champions this weekend."

Osasuna, however, have plenty to play for and are likely to prove difficult opponents.

The Navarrans, who lost 3-0 at Valencia last weekend, are just two points above the relegation zone and can ill afford to concede any points if they are to avoid the drop.

Goalkeeper Ricardo will be able to play after his red card against Valencia was overturned on appeal, but centre forward Dady is a doubt.

Real are likely to be strengthened by the return of Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who should get a run after a six-week absence following ankle surgery, but playmaker Guti is a doubt because of a strained knee ligament.

SECOND PLACE

Second-placed Villarreal, who are 10 points adrift of Real with four games to play, are aiming to ensure they do not gift their rivals the title by slipping up against an out-of-sorts Getafe.

"We are hoping that Real don't become champions this week," said club president Fernando Roig. "As usual we will be going for the win and we will be fighting until the bitter end to finish as high up the table as possible."

Although Villarreal's hopes of winning the title are slim, a win over Getafe will put them in a strong position to finish as runners-up and beat Barcelona to the all-important automatic place in the group phase of the Champions League.

The Catalans are four points behind Villarreal and morale has taken a bashing after their 1-0 defeat against Manchester United in the semi-finals of this season's competition.

Frank Rijkaard's side have failed to score in their last four outings in all competitions and there are concerns about how their fans will react in Sunday's match at home to Valencia.

"We are devastated by the defeat," Argentine centre back Gabriel Milito told reporters after the United match.

"Now we need to win our remaining four matches and finish the season as best we can."

Italian Serie A

Inter Milan will retain their Serie A title if they beat a hungry AC Milan on Sunday (1300 GMT) in what has been billed as one of the most important city derbies ever.

Milan, in fifth, are desperate for three points to aid their bid to overhaul fourth-placed Fiorentina, who visit strugglers Cagliari on Sunday. They are two points above Milan in the final Champions League qualifying place with three games left.

"Sunday will be something special, past derbies I've played in don't compare, England included," Inter and former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira told Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport.

"What an atmosphere. I raise my game under pressure. These are the games I live for."

A victory is possibly more important to European champions Milan given that Inter have a six-point lead over second-placed AS Roma and would triumph if the pair finished on the same points because of a superior head-to-head record.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini has even hinted he would rather win the scudetto at home to Siena on May 11 so that more fans could celebrate the triumph. Milan are designated as the home team for Sunday's derby at the shared San Siro.

Inter owner Massimo Moratti is more excited than his manager, saying this week the derby was as important as a Champions League final.

The two clubs played in a 2003 Champions League semi-final when Milan went through while they also prevailed in a 2005 quarter-final when keeper Dida was struck by a flair thrown from the Inter end in the abandoned second leg.

OUTSIDE CHANCE

Moratti feels Sunday is more crucial but a repeat of any violence is unlikely given a security crackdown after a series of incidents in Italy in recent years.

Milan captain Paolo Maldini, yet to decide if he will retire at the end of the season, is again expected to be unavailable because of a thigh injury, while Inter's leading striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to miss out with ongoing knee trouble.

Roma will look to take advantage of any Inter slip when they visit sixth-placed Sampdoria, who have an outside chance of beating Milan and Fiorentina to the final Champions League spot.

Third-placed Juventus, who secured their place in the Champions League qualifiers last weekend, have not given up hope of overtaking Roma and bagging an automatic berth.

Claudio Ranieri's side are five points behind Roma and travel to mid-table Siena on Sunday.

The relegation battle is extremely tight with three to play and complicated by the fact many of the strugglers meet each other in the final weeks of the season.