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Atletico Madrid Drops Out Of La Liga Title Race As Barcelona And Real Madrid Win

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atletico vs Levante
Pic Courtesy: Twitter – @Atleti

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid dropped out of the La Liga title race after suffering a 2-1 shocking defeat to relegation side Levante on Sunday. Barcelona thrashed their local rivals Espanyol 5-0 to hold to the top spot with 88 points. While Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-2 to remain one point behind the league leaders and ensured that the champions will be decided on the final matchday.

Atletico Madrid took the lead within two minutes after star striker Fernando Torres chipped the ball over Levante goalkeeper Diego Marino. However the relegated home side came back strong within the half hour mark to score the equaliser. Victor Casadesus judged the situation well to head a Mauricio Cuero cross into the net, beating the Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Levante had more in store Atletico as Giuseppe Rossi scored a stoppage time winner for the home side. In a swift counterattack, Rossi found the net with a clinical left-footed finish to put an end to Atletico’s title dreams.

barca vs espanyol
Pic Courtesy: Twitter – @FCBarcelona

Meanwhile the Catalans managed to keep their title hopes alive with a 5-0 win over their local rivals Espanyol. A brilliant left footed Messi free kick just outside the box gave Barcelona the lead in the eight minute.

Just seven minutes after the half time break, Suarez doubled the lead sending home a Lionel Messi pass from close range. Suarez made things impossible for Levante by scoring his second of the match and his 37th La Liga goal heading the ball past Espanyol goalkeeper (Lopez) from a Neymar corner.

Things looked very easy for Luis Enrique’s boys as Rafinha was the next to find the net, all thanks to messy goalkeeping by Lopez. Neymar completed the rout by firing the ball past Lopez on the 83rd minute.

real madrid new
Photo Courtesy: Twitter – @realmadriden

Real Madrid were without a lot of their first team players. Dani Carvajal, goalkeeper Keylor Navas, playmaker Luka Modric and the winger Gareth Bale were out of the playing xi due to injury. However the home side did not disappoint their fans with a 3-2 win against 10-man Valencia at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s powerful low finish gave Real the lead in the 26th minute. Karim Benzema doubled the lead before half time. Valencia’s Rodrigo Moreno was later sent off pulled one back after the half time. Finally goals from Rodrigo and Andre Gomes made things impossible for Valencia.

Villarreal, who secured a place in the Champions League playoffs, suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat to to Deportivo La Coruna.

A 31st minute Nolito goal at Estadio Balaidos helped the Fifth on the table Celta Vigo beat Malaga 1-0. Sixth on the table Athletic Bilbao were held 0-0 at Las Palmas.

Granada capitalised upon Isaac Cuenca’s brace to defeat Sevilla 4-1, while Real Betis drew Eibar 1-1.

Anirban Das
Anirban Das's journey to Delhi via Kolkata involves football, music, curiosity (which one day can kill the cat) and food. Following global football opens up an infinite space within him in both the conscious and subconscious self, away from the din and bustle of the madding crowd. Supports Manchester United & Barcelona

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