Title is closest to being won, insists Fabregas

The Spain international is well aware the Blaugrana could clinch the championship if they defeat Athletic Bilbao next weekend and Real Madrid lose to Atletico

Cesc Fabregas has admitted Barcelona are now within touching distance of their fourth Liga title in five seasons on the back of their 1-0 win over Levante on Saturday before taking a swipe at those who feel the championship is not as important as the Champions League.

The versatile Spain international scored the only goal of the game at Camp Nou, firing home with just six minutes remaining to earn a victory that restored the Blaugrana's 13-point advantage over Real Madrid - with just six rounds of the season remaining.

"The title is close," Fabregas told reporters after the game. "It was important to win, even though some people want to make out that the league doesn't matter."

Fabregas conceded the Catalans had not been at their best against Levante, but he believes the difficult nature of the game served as perfect preparation for Tuesday's Champions League clash.

"Obviously we had to try to forget about the Bayern game tonight, but it's always much better going into the Champions League having won matches like these," the former Arsenal captain explained.

"We're happy to have prepared for Tuesday's game like this. It was tough to play against a defence like Levante's.

"It was a tough game. There was a long stretch in the first half in which we weren't very good, but we were better in the second."

Meanwhile, Fabregas' team-mate, Alexis Sanchez, was a happy man after teeing up Fabregas for the winner.

And the struggling Chilean is now hoping he has done enough to earn a place in the starting line-up for Tuesday's semi-final showdown in the Allianz Arena.

"I am calm, doing well and helping the team," he argued. "Ahead of the trip to Germany, I feel good. I want to play and help the team get a result there.

"Every day I feel better physically and I feel better with my team-mates, too."

Alexis also dismissed the suggestion Barcelona will go into their semi-final against the newly-crowned German champions as slight underdogs.

"I do not think Bayern are superior to Barca," the winger stated. "I believe that we are the two favourites [for the tournament]."

Borussia Dortmund take on Real Madrid in the other last-four encounter.