BARCELONA coach Pep Guardiola spoke of a "marvellous night" for the Catalan giants following his side`s stunning demolition of arch rivals Real Madrid.
Barca produced yet another breathtaking performance to inflict a 6-2 mauling over Madrid at the Bernabeu that all but seals the Primera Division title for Guardiola`s men.
They are now seven points clear of Madrid with four games remaining and could even be crowned champions next weekend if they beat Villarreal at the Nou Camp and Madrid lose away to Valencia.
A delighted Guardiola said: "We came here with the intention of winning the game and I can`t deny that it has been a marvellous night for all of us.
"To win at a ground like this, against a club like this, is something very, very great. Today we`ve taken a big step, immense."
Guardiola also took time to praise Madrid, with Juande Ramos` side having gone on a remarkable run to breath life back into the title race when it looked dead and buried earlier this season.
Since losing 2-0 to Barca at the Nou Camp in December - Ramos` first league match in charge - Madrid had taken 52 points from a possible 54 to move to within touching distance of the pacesetters heading into tonight`s match.
Madrid`s hopes of a third successive title may now have been crushed, but Guardiola was nevertheless quick to hail their rivals` efforts - both tonight and over the past few months.
"Madrid have not given up at any moment. He were fortunate to score our fourth goal just after they got their third," he said.
"I congratulate Madrid for having chased us all season and for having trimmed away quite a lot of points, but it`s true that today we`ve taken a great step to being champions."
Madrid coach Ramos, whose side actually went ahead through Gonzalo Higuain in the 14th minute before being overrun by rampant Barca, had few complaints about the result, although he refused to concede the title race was done and dusted.
"We`ve lost a lot of the hope that we had of winning the league but Barcelona were superior, they played better than us and they deservedly won," he said.
"I think that at this moment Barcelona are, probably, a step above. They showed today that they are better, but maybe their first goals came through errors that we didn`t expect.
"You cannot gift Barcelona anything because they will kill you. Barcelona have a team capable of winning at any ground."
As to whether Madrid`s hopes of lifting the league title are now gone, Ramos added: "I always try to think about the next match whether we have won or lost. Obviously today and tomorrow we will be feeling the effects of this match and the players are upset.
"From Tuesday we will focus on the next game. Whilst there is a mathematical chance remaining we will continue fighting, although obviously it is more difficult now. Real Madrid will never give up."
They are now seven points clear of Madrid with four games remaining and could even be crowned champions next weekend if they beat Villarreal at the Nou Camp and Madrid lose away to Valencia.
A delighted Guardiola said: "We came here with the intention of winning the game and I can`t deny that it has been a marvellous night for all of us.
"To win at a ground like this, against a club like this, is something very, very great. Today we`ve taken a big step, immense."
Guardiola also took time to praise Madrid, with Juande Ramos` side having gone on a remarkable run to breath life back into the title race when it looked dead and buried earlier this season.
Since losing 2-0 to Barca at the Nou Camp in December - Ramos` first league match in charge - Madrid had taken 52 points from a possible 54 to move to within touching distance of the pacesetters heading into tonight`s match.
Madrid`s hopes of a third successive title may now have been crushed, but Guardiola was nevertheless quick to hail their rivals` efforts - both tonight and over the past few months.
"Madrid have not given up at any moment. He were fortunate to score our fourth goal just after they got their third," he said.
"I congratulate Madrid for having chased us all season and for having trimmed away quite a lot of points, but it`s true that today we`ve taken a great step to being champions."
Madrid coach Ramos, whose side actually went ahead through Gonzalo Higuain in the 14th minute before being overrun by rampant Barca, had few complaints about the result, although he refused to concede the title race was done and dusted.
"We`ve lost a lot of the hope that we had of winning the league but Barcelona were superior, they played better than us and they deservedly won," he said.
"I think that at this moment Barcelona are, probably, a step above. They showed today that they are better, but maybe their first goals came through errors that we didn`t expect.
"You cannot gift Barcelona anything because they will kill you. Barcelona have a team capable of winning at any ground."
As to whether Madrid`s hopes of lifting the league title are now gone, Ramos added: "I always try to think about the next match whether we have won or lost. Obviously today and tomorrow we will be feeling the effects of this match and the players are upset.
"From Tuesday we will focus on the next game. Whilst there is a mathematical chance remaining we will continue fighting, although obviously it is more difficult now. Real Madrid will never give up."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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