La Liga Title Race Tightens as Real Madrid Lead Barcelona By Just A Point
Real Madrid retain a narrow lead at the top of the Spanish La Liga table as Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike eight minutes from time ensured Real Madrid claimed a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid at Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Atletico, whom were trailing Real by three points at kick-off, looked on course for the derby bragging rights after first-half strikes from Koke and Gabi had put them ahead following Karim Benzema’s early opener for Real. Ronaldo, however, saved the team in the 82nd minute to the relief of boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The result thwarted Atletico’s hopes of completing a league double over their more celebrated rivals for the first time since 1951, having beaten them at the Bernabeu 1-0 earlier in the season.
Barcelona closed up and now a point behind Real after a 4-1 victory over Almeria in the late kick-off at the Camp Nou.
Alexis Sanchez set the hosts on their way in the tenth minute before a superb Lionel Messi free-kick made it 2-0 inside 25 minutes. A moment’s sloppiness in the Barca backline allowed Angel Trujillo to pull one back for Almeria and at 2-1 Barca endured more than one or two nervy moments as the visitors probed for a leveller.
It took until the 83rd minute for Barcelona to finally put the match to bed, with Carles Puyol following up with a smart finish after Messi’s header had come back off the bar, while Xavi took the scoreline further with a fourth as Barca went above Atletico into second place.
