Real’s Higuain and Arbeloa: There is still hope

(GSM) – Real Madrid thumped Athletic Bilbao 5-1 last night to take the title race in the Primera Division to the wire after Barcelona carved out a dramatic 3-2 win in Sevilla.

With just one point separating both sides, Los Merengues striker Gonzalo Higuain is still holding out hope that his team will pip Barca to the league title, eventhough the Catalans will have a distinct advantage in the final round as they host Valladolid at the Camp Nou.

“There is still hope as long as we’re alive. We have one final left and we need to win it,” Higuain said at the club’s official website.

“It’s a shame Barcelona didn’t slip up, but we are satisfied with this win and that our fans went home happy,” he added.

Fullback Alvaro Arbeloa was equally optimistic in his assessment of the title battle, although he acknowledged it won’t be easy in the final game against survival-chasing Malaga.

“The tension of knowing that you depend on others doesn’t allow you to focus as best you can,” he confessed, “but we came out to win in the second half.

“We know it will be hard, but we have one match left. As long as there is still some hope left, we will fight until the end.”

When asked whether coach Manuel Pellegrini will remain in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout next campaign, Arbeloa replied: “We have all said over the course of the season that we are happy with Pellegrini. We hope he stays.”