European preview: Juventus on verge of Serie A title

BBC Sport is launching a month-long focus on European football this weekend - bringing you live updates and news stories from across the continent.

On Saturday, we will be providing live text commentary of action in Serie A where Juventus can clinch the title against Palermo. Then it is back to Spain, where we will focus on Barcelona, who can edge closer to the La Liga title.

Spain

Despite the humiliating manner of their European exit against Bayern, Barcelona have the chance to move closer to securing the Spanish league title this weekend.

Real Madrid beat Real Valladolid on Saturday, so Tito Vilanova's side must wait until at least next weekend before they can wrap up the championship.

Italy

Juventus are aiming to claim the Italian title with a draw or victory against visitors Palermo on Sunday.

The Serie A leaders, who are 11 points clear of second-placed Napoli with four matches to play, could still win the title with a defeat - so long as Napoli fail to beat Inter Milan later on Sunday.

Veteran Juve midfielder Andrea Pirlo says his team fully deserve to win a second straight Scudetto.

"We've been the most consistent team," said the Italy international. "Last year the title was unthinkable at the start of the season and what we did was an extraordinary achievement.

"This year we set out with the aim of repeating that success and we've shown that we're a notch above the rest.

"We'll wait until we've got this last point sewn up, hopefully this Sunday, but we deserve to win the Scudetto again."

Netherlands

Dutch leaders Ajax secured a record 32nd national title on the penultimate weekend of the Eredivisie season.

The Amsterdam club eased to a 5-0 win over bottom club Willem II, meaning PSV can no longer catch them.

France

Big-spending Paris St-Germain are running away with the French league and can move closer to securing their first title since 1994 this weekend.

PSG are without ex-England skipper David Beckham who is suspended after his red card in last weekend's win at Evian.

Best of the rest

The Portuguese title race is likely to be decided when the top two teams Porto and Benfica meet next weekend in their penultimate games of the season.

Galatasaray need a victory in Sunday's home match against mid-table Sivasspor to become Turkish national champions for a record 19th time - which would put them one ahead of Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce.

Second-placed Fenerbahce, who were beaten by Benfica in Thursday's Europa League semi-final, need to avoid defeat at Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor to stand any chance of overhauling Galatasaray.