Barca lead the standings on 39 points from 18 games, three clear of second-placed Real Madrid who host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Here is a factual guide on the man of the moment...
Madrid were not at their best but moved three points clear of rivals Barcelona.
The Spanish League leaders slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Real Mallorca.
The German fifth seed kicks off her campaign against compatriot Tatjana Maria on Tuesday, but could potentially face three former champions in Serena Williams, Garbine Muguruza and Maria Sharapova if she goes deep into the tournament.
The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) has rejected Barcelona's appeal against a four-match ban imposed on goalkeeper Victor Valdes for verbally abusing a referee after this month's 2-1 La Liga reverse at Real Madrid.
Real Mallorca rallied from a goal down at half-time to beat the European champs 5-1 in the Spanish League.
'Last year I was one point away to the final. I felt competitive last couple of years, so why do I need to change that?'
The Barcelona coach said he is not prepared to throw in the towel despite rumours that Saturday's game against Real Mallorca will be his last in charge of the beleaguered Catalan giants.
Rafael Nadal started playing with balls before he could walk and in his formative years liked soccer just as much as tennis, his grandmother Isabel Homar said.
Factbox on Rafa Nadal, who won his eighth French Open tennis title on Sunday.
French Open Champion Rafael Nadal has resumed training, and is looking to bounce back from his shock first-round exit at Wimbledon, as he starts his hard court season in Montreal on August 5.
Lionel Messi will miss this weekend's La Liga match at home to Real Mallorca with a right hamstring injury and will then return to action depending on the speed of his recovery, Barcelona said after tests on Wednesday.
Barcelona will appeal a four-match ban handed to goalkeeper Victor Valdes after he furiously berated the referee at the end of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid, the La Liga leaders said on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi has gone from being the first name on Barcelona's team sheet to the last, as they await a late fitness test ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to Paris St Germain.
The sea 'n' sand is calling. Hit the beach no matter what!
Factbox on Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to win his 10th French Open title on Sunday.
Newly-crowned champions Real Madrid beat Mallorca 4-1 to break the 100-point barrier on the final day of La Liga season as Villarreal sensationally slipped through the relegation trapdoor.
Inter moved on to 68 points, ahead of Lazio on goal difference as the sides are level on their head-to-head records. They are eight points behind Juventus with six games to play.
Five facts about Tito Vilanova, who will take over as Barcelona coach from Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.
Barcelona midfielder Xavi is close to an agreement on a new contract that will mean he ends his playing career at the La Liga club he joined more than 20 years ago, the Spain international said.
Carlos Aranda's 90th-minute goal gave Real Zaragoza a 1-0 win at Levante in a King's Cup last 16 first-leg tie on Thursday while Real Betis were held to a 1-1 draw at second division Las Palmas.
Jorge Lorenzo's celebration of his MotoGP world title on his home island of Mallorca on Thursday was interrupted unexpectedly when the Spanish Yamaha rider suffered what appeared to be minor burns to his leg from a motorcycle.
Rafael Nadal had taken anti-inflammatories and undergone intensive physiotherapy to alleviate a lower back problem and still planned to compete in Buenos Aires next month, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
Real Madrid's Jose Callejon scored twice and Nuri Sahin bagged his first goal for the club as the holders crushed third-tier Ponferradina 5-1 in a King's Cup last 32 second leg on Tuesday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Rafael Nadal is chasing a historic 10th French Open title in Paris, but nothing will ever come close to trying to win his second.
Cutting-edge styles often mean you're also on the edge of over-exposing -- and that's just what happens to a lot of glamorous fashionistas!
A new-look Atletico Madrid suffered a setback in their opening La Liga match of the season when they squandered several chances and twice struck the post in a 0-0 home draw with Osasuna on Sunday.
Barca finished the season second in the standings on 82 points, four behind champions Real Madrid who visit Leganes later on Sunday. Alaves are 16th on 39.
World number one Rafael Nadal damaged a muscle in his right leg during his Australian Open quarter-final defeat by Spanish compatriot David Ferrer and needs around 10 days to recover.
IMAGES from soccer matches played in the English Premier League and the La Liga on Monday.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo will be out of action for around three weeks with a bruised right ankle, the Spanish club said on their website (www.realmadrid.com) on Monday.
English champions Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the season but Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid were held 0-0 at Real Mallorca and German champions Bayern suffered a shock defeat to Kaiserslautern.
According to Hola magazine, Nadal and Xisca got secretly engaged in May last year and now planning an autumn wedding this year.
Santiago Solari got off to the perfect start as Real Madrid's interim coach when his side thrashed Melilla 4-0 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
The decision came after a failure to pay long-standing debt, according to reports in the English media.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday.
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