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It’s been an absolutely absorbing day in the La Liga title race.
Atletico Madrid have surrendered their bid after Diego Simeone’s men fell to a shock 2-1 defeat by already relegated Levante.
Over at the Bernabeu and Real Madrid managed to prevail 3-2 against Valencia with Los Blancos talisman Cristiano Ronaldo firing in a brace.
However it is still Barcelona who hold the cards.
Luis Enrique’s men thrashed Espanyol 5-0 in their derby to lead Real Madrid by one point in the title race.
Barca face a trip to Granada in the final league fixture next weekend whilst Real Madrid head to take on Deportivo La Coruna.
Miss the action? Read up on Ed Malyon’s report HERE.
Deserving champions?
Following their emphatic 5-0 dismissal of Espanyol, Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is in no doubt who should be holding the La Liga trophy next weekend.
“We deserve the league title and I hope we can be precise in the final game to win the title,” said the Spaniard.
Victory at Granada or simply matching Real Madrid’s result at Deportivo will suffice.
Miss the action?
Were you out and about in the sun today?
Well the Mirror’s Ed Malyon round’s up a pivotal day in the La Liga title race.
On a roll
Real Madrid rode their luck at times today but Los Blancos are on a storming run.
Sandwiching their progress into the Champions League final, Zidane’s men have now won 11 straight La Liga matches.
Can they overhaul Barcelona in the title race next weekend? They’ll need Granada to spring a surprise victory.
Dominant Barca
That was a derby demolition for Espanyol.
Luis Enrique’s men, particularly in the second half, were able to canter to three vital points.
Here are the stats that matter...
Current standings
So the La Liga title destination heads into the final fixture.
Barcelona (88 points) and Real Madrid (87 points) are now embroiled in a two horse race for the trophy.
Los Blancos travel to face Deportivo La Coruna next Sunday whereas Barcelona play at Granada.
FULL-TIME
Barcelona comprehensively beat local rivals Espanyol 5-0 and can retain their La Liga title with victory at Granda next weekend.
Real Madrid have just about prevailed 3-2 against Real Madrid to keep their dream alive.
However, Atletico Madrid are ruled out having fallen to a shock loss at relegated Levante.
GOAL! Levante 2-1 Atletico Madrid, Rossi, 90 mins
Greizmann and Torres have had decent efforts saved at already relegated Levante but that seems irrelevant now.
Guiseppe Rossi, (Remember him at Manchester United?), caps off a flowing Levante move to slot home for a late lead.
Simeone’s men are losing and as things stand will be eliminated from the title race.
GOAL! Barcelona 5-0 Espanyol, Neymar, 83 mins
The La Liga leaders are now running riot.
Alves scoops in a delicious pass to Suarez on the right, who sprints into the penalty area before unselfishly squaring for Neymar.
The Brazilian makes no mistake to tap in the fifth from close range. Simple but sumptuous flowing move.
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-2 Valencia, Gomes, 81 mins
Well this makes the remaining moments at the Bernabeu pretty tense.
Andre Gomes curls in a delightful low strike into the bottom right corner from 25 yards out.
Kiko Casilla has no chance and Real Madrid’s lead is halved. Can Zidane’s men hold on?
GOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol, Rafinha, 74 mins
Well this is getting embarrassing for Espanyol in the derby.
Rafinha heads onto the pitch and scores with his first touch.
The away side’s keeper Sabata spills a routine cross to offer the Brazilian the most simple finish from a couple of yards out.
Bales in the stands
Gareth Bale has been in superb form for Los Blancos recently.
However the Welshman was ruled out of the Valencia contest with a slight knee injury.
That’s enabled Bale to soak up the action at the Bernabeu with his family...
Barca reinforcements
With his side coasting to three crucial points, Enrique has made a couple of changes with 73 minutes gone.
Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic are replaced following a duo of fine performances.
Arda Turan and Rafinha have entered the pitch to see out the remaining quarter of the match.
Atletico out of range
Simeone’s Atletico are still plugging away at Levante.
The hosts had a free-kick well saved by Oblak but down the other end Greizmann and co are being frustrated by the side already relegated.
Remember Atletico haven’t picked up maximum points at Levante since 2007.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Espanyol, Suarez, 61 mins
There you have it.
Luis Suarez evades his marker and cannons a header into the roof of the net from a corner.
That’s 56 goals for the ex-Liverpool striker in Barcelona colours this season.
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Valencia, Ronaldo, 58 mins
Forget the title nerves, Real Madrid have their main man Ronaldo on fire.
The Los Blancos talisman sprints clear on the left following a deft pass from James Rodriguez and dispatches a brilliant lofted finish into the top right corner.
Lead restored at the Bernabeu within three minutes. That’s efficiency!
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Valencia, Rodrigo, 56 mins
Just when you thought Real Madrid were cantering, they have their lead halved.
Raphael Varane’s weak clearance is latched onto by Rodrigo.
The 25-year-old striker catches it clean and rockets a fine finish into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Top scorer on target
That second half strike was Luis Suarez’s 36th La Liga goal of the season.
Suarez, the league’s top scorer is four clear of Real Madrid’s Ronaldo.
Is there a route back for their local rivals at the Nou Camp?
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol, 52 mins, Luis Suarez
That could be a crucial strike in the La Liga title race.
Barcelona have started the second half slowly but launch into life down the right.
Dani Alves feeds Messi, who pivots and plays in Luis Suarez. The free-scoring Uruguayan coasts the ball into the top right corner.
Simeone calls on Griezmann
Over at Levante and Atletico boss Diego Simeone feels his side need a spark.
Fortunately they have Antoine Griezmann in their ranks.
The France international, who scored against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday, has been sent on to try and replicate those heroics along with Yannick Carrasco.
Not a happy Messi
Barcelona scorer Lionel Messi had to be told three times by the referee to leave the field at half-time.
The Argentina forward was evidently furious by some of the tackles he has experienced so far on Sunday.
Will he be offered more protection in the second period of this derby?
Business as usual
So Messi and Ronaldo have provided the catalyst for their sides to lead at half-time.
Atletico remain level at Levante on the whistle.
Currently La Liga would be happy viewing for Luis Enrique’s men: Barcelona 88 points, Real Madrid 87, Atletico Madrid 86.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia, 42 mins, Karim Benzema
Well after a slow start Los Blancos have day light over Valencia.
Frenchman Benzema is denied by Diego Alves from Ronaldo’s cross but gets a second chance and makes no mistake.
The Real striker was offside for the initial cross, the linesman flagged, but the referee has overruled him.
Tempers threatening to boil over
Espanyol have a succession of bookings for reckless tackles.
Ruben Duarte is lucky not to gift Barcelona a penalty for a petulant kick-out at Messi.
The Barcelona players are becoming increasingly frustrated by the robust challenges from the visitors.
GOAL! Levante 1-1 Atletico Madrid, 30 mins, Casadesus
Atletico, without their inspirational coach Diego Simeone on the touchline, have relinquished their lead.
Victor Casadesus has glanced in a thumping header for the home side from Cuero’s well craftefd cross.
Back level and advantage Barcelona.
Ronaldo home comforts
Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring stats get more remarkable by the match.
The Portuguese forward has just struck his 32nd La Liga goal of the season.
In competitive appearances, that’s Ronaldo’s 172nd Bernabeu goal in 200 contests. Simply awesome.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Valencia, 26 mins, Cristiano Ronaldo
Guess who?
That’s right, Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo holds off two challenges to turn on the edge of the area and arrow a low finish into the bottom left-hand corner.
All three title contenders lead 1-0.
What pressure?
Real Madrid have failed to find their rhythm yet, perhaps their Champions League exertions have caught up on Zinedine Zidane’s men.
Casemiro lets fly from outside the box but his effort whistles past the post.
Barcelona are continuing to purr. Neymar delivers a ‘rabona’ cross but Messi’s prodded effort is deflected wide.
Barca ramping up the pressure
At the Nou Camp it is certainly one way traffic.
Luis Enrique’s side are all over their local rivals and are only being halted by last-ditch fouls outside the box.
Neymar this time flashes a free-kick over the bar. By the way Messi has been booked, he can’t have it all his own way.
Barca denied a double
Ivan Rakitic is harshly ruled offside and Barcelona are denied a quick-fire second.
Messi broke into the six yard box, rattles in a right-footed shot but Rakitic practically on the line is deemed offside.
Back with Atletico - Simeone’s men haven’t won at Levante since 2007 (D2, L3). Not a bad time to change that record.