Nerve-racking race: Barcelona try to take the lead again
Football | May 10, 2021 22:50 ISTIt turned out that Madrid became the latest club to miss a chance to take the lead after being held to a 2-2 draw at home on Sunday.
It turned out that Madrid became the latest club to miss a chance to take the lead after being held to a 2-2 draw at home on Sunday.
Real Madrid blasted the referee and VAR after Sunday's 2-2 draw against Sevilla, which kept the club from taking the lead at the top of the table with three rounds to go.
Atlético remained two points in front of Barcelona with three rounds to go, still in position to win its first league title since 2014.
Messi invited his teammates and their partners for a barbecue to help the squad bond ahead of a decisive Spanish league match next weekend.
Messi scored two second-half goals on Sunday -- including his 50th from a free-kick -- as Barcelona came from behind to beat Valencia 3-2 and get within two points of leader Atlético Madrid.
Real Madrid stayed two points back after late goals by Éder Militão and Casemiro defeated a feisty Osasuna 2-0.
Not even the return of Luis Suárez and João Félix was enough for Diego Simeone's team, which could drop to second on Thursday when Barcelona plays eighth-place Granada at home.
Zinedine Zidane's side produced a toothless attacking performance in drawing at home with Real Betis 0-0 on Saturday, its second scoreless stalemate in three rounds.
Madrid, which is ahead of Atlético on the head-to-head tiebreaker, had lost ground last weekend after being held to draw at Getafe.
Atlético ended its winless run by routing last-place Eibar 5-0, then saw city rival Real Madrid held 0-0 by Getafe; Thibaut Courtois saves Real from imminent defeat.
Messi climbed into the tribune after leading the 4-0 win and lifted the trophy high above his head and turned to his team on the pitch below.
A run of poor results over the past two months has whittled Atlético's once double-digit advantage down to the slimmest of margins.
The win put Sevilla six points from Atlético, which has stumbled at the top recently.
Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos scored first-half goals to give Madrid its sixth straight win in all competitions.
The Valencia players walked off the field after defender Mouctar Diakhaby said he was racially insulted by Cádiz defender Juan Cala.
The Spanish team's leading top-scorer has suffered a muscle injury in his left leg.
A late winner by Ousmane Dembele gave Barcelona control of its own fate in the race for La Liga title.
The Barcelona vs Real Valladolid match, which ended 1-0, had its fair share of controversy too as Lionel Messi was seen hitting out at match referee Jaime Latre at half time with the scoreline locked a stalemate.
Valencia left the field after Mouctar Diakhaby said he was insulted by Cádiz defender Juan Cala, who denied any wrongdoing.
Alavés, which faces Celta Vigo at home on Sunday, dropped to bottom in the 20-team standings.
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