A wild final ten minutes in LaLiga saw Luis Suarez score a huge winner for Atletico Madrid, taking the title race to the wire – but Barcelona’s dreams were ended.
Going into Sunday’s ten fixtures, all starting at the same time despite being the penultimate matches for each team, Atleti were in pole position.
Heading into the final moments of the games, though, they were losing 1-0 to Osasuna, while Real Madrid were beating Athletic Bilbao 1-0, and Barcelona drawing 1-1 with Celta Vigo.
Diego Simeone’s side, who have been top of the table since early November, once again displayed their never say die attitude.
First of all, Brazilian left-back Renan Lodi lashed home a powerful strike with eight minutes to go to put Atleti on level terms.
Then, with just two minutes to go, Suarez rolled home a Yannick Carrasco cut-back to put them ahead and spark wild celebrations.
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It’s one of the best pile-ons you’re likely to see, although a desperately anxious Simeone was up the touchline attempting to make an immediate substitution to shore up his side so they could take the win, which they did.
And while that put Atletico Madrid back on top in the title race, a last-minute Santi Mina goal saw Celta Vigo beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou.
The defeat ends Lionel Messi’s LaLiga title hopes with Real Madrid now the only side who can usurp Simeone’s side.
Next Sunday will see Zinedine Zidane’s Real face Villarreal, while Atletico meet Real Valladolid.
Zidane has faced speculation about his future and this looks set to continue, just like rumours about Messi’s future.
The Argentine wasn’t happy when Barcelona allowed Suarez to leave the club.
He said after the £5.5million transfer was concluded: “You deserved a farewell befitting who you are: one of the most important players in the history of the club, achieving great things for the team and on an individual level.
“You did not deserve for them to throw you out like they did. But the truth is that at this stage nothing surprises me any more.”
And now the move has come back to haunt Barcelona as they will finish outside the top three for the first time since 2007/08, while Suarez could claim title glory.