Barcelona have no time to dwell on European exit with domestic double still in play

Catalans have fate in their hands, but Atletico set for boost from Diego Costa's return

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, right, vies with Atletico Madrid midfielder and captain Gabi during their Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on April 9, 2014. Curto de la Torre / AFPShow less

Barcelona need to recover quickly to maintain hopes of retaining their Primera Liga title as they travel to Granada on Saturday, three days after being dumped out of the Uefa Champions League by Atletico Madrid.

The Catalans trail Atletico by a point at the top of the table with six games left, but they have matters in their own hands as they meet the capital club at the Camp Nou on the final match day of the season.

Barca can stay on course for a domestic double if they beat Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday.

Midfielder Andres Iniesta insists Barca have no time to feel sorry for themselves.

"The defeat shouldn't affect us," he said. "The Champions League is a wonderful competition, but you cannot win it every year.

“Now we have the league and the final of the cup. The pain will last a few days, but that is football and sport. We need to keep going and fight for the competitions in which we are still alive.”

Real Madrid also remain in contention for the title; they lie three points off the top in third place.

Real seem likely again to be without Cristiano Ronaldo when they host Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. Tests revealed on Thursday that he has a hamstring strain that could keep him out for a couple of weeks.

Real held on to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday despite losing 2-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final tie away at Borussia Dortmund.

Luka Modric, the Croatian midfielder, said his side must learn from their sloppy display in Germany for what remains of the season.

“We are very happy to be in the semi-finals, but not with how we played the other night, especially in the first half,” he said. “We cannot allow that to happen. We need to learn from it and improve.”

Leaders Atletico are not in action until Sunday, when they travel across Madrid to face relegation-threatened Getafe.

Diego Simeone, Atletico’s coach, said he would try to keep a lid on expectations after the Barcelona victory. His side have reached the last four of the Champions League for the first time in 40 years and are on course for their first Primera Liga title since he played for the club in 1996.

“We are desperate to keep working in the way we have until now. We haven’t won anything yet,” Simeone said.

Atletico should be boosted by the return of top scorer Diego Costa from a hamstring injury.

Simeone is expected to make several changes to freshen up his side after the physical demands of knocking Barcelona out of Europe in midweek.

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