Spanish title fight down to Atletico, Barca

MADRID: The Spanish league title race now looks like a two-way fight, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona heading for a championship showdown in the last round if they both win this weekend.
Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw at Real Valladolid on Wednesday improved Atletico’s chances of winning its first league title since 1996, although it will probably have to hold off Barcelona at Camp Nou in the last round. However, Atletico could be crowned champion with a victory against Malaga on Sunday if Barcelona fails to win at Elche.
Madrid’s untimely draw gifted Barcelona the chance to win its fifth title in six seasons despite the defending champions recent stumbles through the closing stages of a turbulent season.
Madrid led through Sergio Ramos’ 35th-minute free kick, but the visitors sat back too deep in the closing stages.
With Ronaldo on the sidelines encouraging his teammates, Madrid ultimately buckled after an 85th-minute corner kick. Humberto Ososrio headed home a deserved equalizer — and an important goal in Valladolid’s bid to avoid relegation.
“We had the game controlled. We didn’t have the mental energy to finish these games. There were mistakes in these games,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose team recorded back-to-back league draws after routing Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final.
“It’s going to be very difficult” to win the title, Ancelotti added.
Midfielder Xabi Alonso was quoted as telling Spanish media: “It’s practically over for us.” Atletico can secure the title on Sunday with a victory against Malaga if Barcelona fails to win at Elche. Barcelona can win its fifth title in six seasons if it wins its last two games, with Atletico visiting on the final match day.
Ronaldo seemed to pull up clutching his right leg following a long run through Valladolid’s half moments before being substituted for Alvaro Morata. The Portugal forward had recently returned from a left leg injury.
With Ronaldo unavailable for free kicks, Ramos stepped up to curl a swooping right-footed shot over the defensive wall and under the bar past goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez for the Madrid defender’s fifth goal in four games.
Madrid, the record 32-time domestic champion, failed to conjure up any more concrete scoring chances, with Angel Di Maria and Morata coming closest with Jimenez standing up to the few challenges.
“We couldn’t maintain the necessary focus in relation to the importance of the match. In the second half we couldn’t maintain our concentration,” Alonso was quoted as saying. “I’m upset with the team for not being able to step up over the last 45 minutes.” As the Copa del Rey champion, Madrid’s hopes of an elusive treble look to have been dashed. Ancelotti will now have to decide whether to play Ronaldo in the final two games or save the 50-goal marksman for the Champions League final against Atletico on May 24.
Di Maria and defender Pepe also picked up knocks in the match, which could rule them out of Sunday’s game against Celta Vigo.
The draw moved Valladolid up to 18th in the 20-team league.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti said after the game that he didn’t believe Ronaldo’s injury was a serious problem and the Portuguese was able to run freely during the session on Thursday, alongside Gareth Bale, who had also missed the trip to Valladolid due to a knock suffered in the 2-2 draw against Valencia on Sunday.