Liga: Atlético and Real Madrid tear up in final title fight
Atlético de Madrid striker Luis Suarez and Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior.
© Juan Medina and Vincent West / Reuters / Editing RFI
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
5 mins
The penultimate day of the Spanish championship was breathtaking, Sunday May 16.
FC Barcelona gave up their last title hopes by losing to Celta Vigo (2-1).
After being led to the score, Atlético de Madrid overthrew Osasuna (2-1), while Real Madrid won in Bilbao (1-0).
The two rivals of the capital will compete for the crown from a distance on the final day.
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Who will rule Spain this year?
The final answer will fall on Sunday May 23, at the end of the 38th and final day of this 2020-2021 season.
The fate could have been sealed as early as May 16.
But at the end of a crazy 37th day, there are only two candidates left for the title: Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid.
FC Barcelona lay down their arms
The three-way race is over.
Barça, 3rd in the standings (76 points) before this day, had to achieve a faultless to hope to top Real Madrid (2nd with 78 points) and Atlético de Madrid (1st with 80 points).
The Blaugrana believed in it before collapsing at Camp Nou against Celta Vigo, 8th in the standings.
Lionel Messi, the top scorer in La Liga, put Barcelona on the referee by signing his 30th goal of the season with a well-placed header (28th).
But Celta quickly equalized thanks to Santi Mina (38th).
And then, the Catalans completely cracked in the last minutes.
Clément Lenglet was sent off for two warnings (73rd, 83rd).
And Santi Mina crucified Barça on the wire (89th).
This defeat of FC Barcelona against Vigo (2-1) means the end of the hopes of Ronald Koeman's men to seek the title, and even 2nd place.
Barcelona will now fight to keep their 3rd place, because Sevilla FC is just behind (4th, 74 points).
Real Madrid do not let go
For several minutes, Real Madrid dethroned Atlético de Madrid.
The goal scored by Nacho (68th) on the field of Athletic Bilbao first allowed the Merengues to join Atléti with the same number of points.
Then, when their rivals were behind in their match, Zinedine Zidane's men took sole control ... until Atlético turned the tide.
Real did the job by winning over the smallest score in the Basque Country (1-0) and with success, Nacho having seen Casemiro's center-shot bounce off his shin before finishing his run. at the bottom of the fillets.
The White House will play its game in a week.
Atlético de Madrid got scared
So many emotions for the supporters of the Matelassiers.
On paper, Atlético de Madrid had nothing to tremble at home against Osasuna.
And yet, in the money-time, Diego Simeone and his players almost lost everything.
Stefan Savic opened the scoring, but the video assistance canceled his goal for offside (59th).
And then, Real Madrid opened the scoring on their side, and Ante Budimir opened the scoring for Osasuna (75th).
Atléti then feared the worst in the face of the disaster scenario that was taking shape. But this fear may have served as an electric shock, as the leader reversed the situation within minutes. Renan Lodi, who came into play a little earlier, first equalized (82nd). And finally, the inevitable Luis Suarez scored the winning goal (88th).
Thanks to this snatched success, Atlético de Madrid remains at the top of La Liga with 83 points (+41 goal difference) ahead of Real Madrid, 81 points (+37).
To be crowned Spanish champions for the first time since 2014, the Colchoneros will have to win on May 23 in Valladolid, or at least score as good as Real Madrid.
Real will have to beat Villarreal at all costs and hope for a misstep from Atlético.
If Real wins and Atléti draws, the two clubs in the capital will be separated on goal difference, for the moment to the advantage of the leader.
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