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The Final Push

The struggle between Barca and Bilbao for the last UEFA Cup place will not be decided until the final whistle of the last game of the season.

Just as two seasons ago, when a Rivaldo goal in the last match of the season qualified Barca for the Champions League, the doorway to Europe will be open until the last moment. Bilbao, Barca's rival for the last UEFA Cup place, disposed of Deportivo at the weekend but finish with an even trickier match against league title contenders Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. Barcelona play host to Celta, who assured the fourth Champions League spot last Sunday and have little to motivate them in their visit to the Camp Nou.

The different permutations

Whatever happens in the Real Madrid v Bilbao clash, FC Barcelona has to win against Celta. Barca go into the game two points adrift of the Basques so one point from a draw won't be enough. If Athletic Bilbao lose, they still qualify for Europe if Barca draw or lose. If Bilbao draw against Madrid and Barca beat Celta, the two clubs will tie on 56 points. In this case Barca will qualify because of their superior head-to-head goal average, having beaten Bilbao 0-2 in San Mamés and drawn 2-2 in the Camp Nou.

All four teams go into the final game on the back of a good run of form, especially Jupp Heynckes' Bilbao who are unbeaten in ten games, while Barcelona have won their last three in a row.

A thorn in the side of Valencia

FC Barcelona seems to have specialised in spoiling Valencia's Champions League aspirations. Last weekend's 1-3 in the Mestalla pushed Valencia out of the major European competition for the second time in three years. Valencia will have to settle for the UEFA Cup now that Celta have beaten them to fourth place.

Valencia is fifth in the table with 57 points and can't catch Celta on 61. Two seasons ago, in the last game, Brazilian ace Rivaldo scored a fantastic hat trick, including a spectacular last-minute bicycle kick, which gave Barca Champions League football at the expense of Valencia. Valencia, managed at the time by Inter Milan's Hector Cúper, had to make do with the UEFA Cup.