Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says he is confident his team can win their three remaining La Liga games to secure the title after Saturday evening's 6-0 win against Sporting Gijon at the Camp Nou.
For the second time in just four days, Barca top scorer Luis Suarez found the net four times, two from the penalty spot. The other goals came from Lionel Messi's early header and another penalty from Neymar late on as a weakened Sporting side submitted.
With three games to go, Barca remain just ahead of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in the title race, after both challengers had also won their games earlier on Saturday against Malaga and Rayo Vallecano respectively.
The Blaugrana coach told the postgame news conference at the Camp Nou that he was optimistic as his side's big wins against Deportivo La Coruna and now Sporting meant they had moved on from a rough spot when they had lost a previous big lead in the title race.
"I am optimistic when I see how we train and how we play," Luis Enrique said. "We have turned around a very negative run, which nobody expected. We are all humans, can make mistakes, but now we are in the best situation of the three at the top.
"We know if we win our three games we will be champions. While knowing it will still be difficult."
For the second game in a row Barca were involved in a very open first half, gave up chances to their opponents, but ended up winning easily with Suarez and his fellow South American superstars on the scoresheet.
"The first half was dangerous for us, Sporting had two chances, to put the game in their favour," Luis Enrique said. "The second half we had more pace in our play, which obliged the opposition to do more, and helped us make chances.
"At 2-0 the game was decided, and what happened next was not really important. It boosts our spirits to score so many goals. The trident was lethal, but praise for the win goes to them all."
Both challengers Atletico and Real now face Champions League semifinal commitments, while Barca's exit from that competition means they have a full week to prepare for the trip to Real Betis next Saturday.
"To play every three days can have an effect," he said. "I would love for it to affect Atletico and Madrid, but you never really know. Last year we were in that position, and it did not affect us at all.
"We do not have any physical problems, the stats show that. But we go to Betis at the end of a long week, which we do not often have. We can work on improving some things, and move forward confidently."
A tired-looking Neymar had a difficult evening, missing at least four clear chances, but he kept going and won two of the late penalties.
"[Neymar] showed personality to take the penalty, to keep taking people on, to press opponents when we lose the ball," Luis Enrique said. "That is why he is a top player. Other players might end up participating less in the game.
"The fans were singing his name -- which strengthens the player when he needs it."
Luis Enrique said that his substitutions of Sergi Roberto at half-time and Gerard Pique midway through the second half had been forced by minor injury concerns.
"Sergi Roberto got a bang on his ankle early in the game," he said. "We decided to take him off. Pique had some issues with his hip for a while now. Today, after the second goal, I decided to change him and give [Marc] Bartra time on pitch."