Though, if Barca have won yesterday, the winning will still be unproductive as Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-1 to win the title.

The La Liga's top scorer on 23 goals with one game to go said: "We didn't expect to finish in this way, but it sums up the year for us.

"We are a weak team who can be beaten with enough intensity and enthusiasm.

"We have lost a lot of points which we shouldn't have done. We have been very inconsistent.

"We need to be self-critical, starting with the players, but also across the entire club. We are Barcelona, and we are obliged to win every game."

Barca's only hope of a major trophy now is the Champions League. They host Napoli in the last 16 second leg on Saturday, 8 August, having drawn 1-1 in Italy.

It will be recalled that Barca sacked Velverde earlier in the season in order to realize the ambition of winning the title for third consecutive time.