You could say that the English Premiership title race frizzled out but down in Spain it just gets better and better with three games still to play! Just take last night as an example. First Sevilla went top away to Deportivo, then Real Madrid stole a dramatic late victory in injury time away to Huelva and just to wrap the evening up, Barcelona were away at Atletico Madrid and simply had to win to keep in touch with the arch rivals Real. Well, they didn’t just win, they crushed the Madrid team 0 - 6!
Lionel Messi, the Barcelona striker, celebrates his opener at the Vicente Calderon
The destruction of Atletico keeps Barca level on 69 points with Real, who continue to lead La Liga on head-to-head results. There were goals from Lionel Messi (which may have been a little fortunate as repeats showed that Eto’o may have been slightly offside in the build up) , Gianluca Zambrotta and Samuel Eto’o late in the first-half. Barca were never troubled in their win and, with Atletico in tatters at 3-0 down at half-time, Ronaldinho struck a fourth goal in the 58th minute. Messi added a fifth five minutes from time and Andres Iniesta completed the rout at the end.
A shambolic Atletico, who remain sixth and in the Uefa Cup places, finished with 10 men after Brazilian defender Fabiano Eller was sent off for his second yellow card in the 72nd minute.
If Barca’s game in Madrid was totally one way, Real’s was anything but. Madrid were almost cruising at 2 - 0 but Huelva would nit give up and they fought back to 2 - 2. With nearly 2 minutes of extra time gone, it was Roberto Carlos who ventured forward to strike what could prove to be the most important goal of the season.
Robinho’s first-half strike, from David Beckham’s cross, and a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty had put the visitors in control but Antonio Jesus Vazquez’s spot-kick and a goal from substitute Ikechukwu Uche looked to have salvaged a point for Recreativo before Roberto Carlos’ timely contribution.
Earlier in the evening though Sevilla maintained their challenge and ended a great week, after retaining the Uefa Cup in midweek, with a 2-1 win at Deportivo La Coruna. Fredi Kanoute’s 83rd-minute goal proving decisive.
This title race really is going to go down to the wire as neither of the three teams involved look like they are going to buckle under the pressure. Then again, anything can happen in Spain, it’s so unpredictable and that is why it’s such a fascinating league to watch. You can bet there are going to be a few more twists and turns before the title is decided. Who’s nerves are going to give way first?
The Soccer Blogger