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Barcelona. Thierry Henry’s timely return to form is helping Barcelona into the home stretch of its Spanish league duel with bitter rival Real Madrid.

Madrid and Barcelona share 65 points atop the league standings, with Madrid ahead only on goal difference after 26 games.

Although Lionel Messi’s goals have carried Barcelona recently, Henry started in Wednesday’s 4-0 Champions League win over Stuttgart and was decisive in last weekend’s league victory over Valencia.

With Madrid determined to win its first league trophy since 2008 after being knocked out of the Champions League, Barcelona needs Messi’s supporting cast to step up, starting with Saturday’s match at Zaragoza.

“The most important thing is I feel good,” Henry said. “It’s not about relaunching my season. I’m 33, and I think I’ve already shown people enough that I know what I can do. The most important thing is to help my team, not to worry if I score 20 or six goals — that won’t change my career.”

Coach Pep Guardiola started Henry as the lone striker against Stuttgart in place of the struggling Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and not on the left flank that has been his home since his transfer from Arsenal more than two seasons ago.

Guardiola said relegating Ibrahimovic to the substitutes bench was partly to shake the Swedish striker out of his funk.

“My goal is to get the best out of him,” Guardiola said. “Without him in the best shape we won’t win anything this season — he knows we need him.”

Madrid, meanwhile, plays Sporting Gijon on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu, where it has been unbeaten in league play this season.

While the top two continue their fight, now-distant challengers Valencia, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and several surprise teams are focusing on ending the season in the Champions League qualifying places. Valencia is third with 47 points, Sevilla has 44, Mallorca 43 and Deportivo La Coruna 42. Valencia lost 3-0 to Barcelona last weekend, while Se­villa was eliminated from the Champions League after a 2-1 home defeat to CSKA Moscow.

Although Sevilla will play in the Copa del Rey final, Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez needs a victory at Espanyol on Saturday as the Andalucian club looks to finish the season strong after fans called for Jimenez’s firing at the close of Tuesday’s defeat.

Espanyol is playing with its top-flight fate in mind for a second straight season, as it lies five points above the relegation zone.

Valencia is without injured midfielder David Albelda for Sunday’s match against Almeria.

Deportivo welcomes second-last Valladolid to El Riazor stadium on Saturday, while Atletico’s aspirations of getting into the top four will likely need a victory at Mallorca on Sunday, as it trails Sevilla by 10 points.

“I won’t lie — the Champions League looks difficult, but in football you never know,” said Atletico striker Sergio Aguero, who is suspended for the match at the Ono Estadi.


Associated Press