History repeats itself again. The Athletic (45 points) last night ousted Barça from the fourth position that guarantees the ticket for the Champions League and the team of Xavi (42), with two games less, will have to recover their status by winning the Athletic (37) at the Camp Nou. Maximum pressure, then, for the azulgrana, who face the match as one more final. Victory is once again essential. The Real Madrid (60) confirmed his lead by winning the Vallecano Ray in Vallecas.
The Athletes I had it, on paper, more uphill against a Celta that accumulated five games without losing, since January 8 when they fell on their visit to the Real society. Simeone’s men, however, resolved the challenge with a brace of Lodi, a goal in the first half (36′) and another in the second (60′), enough to keep them out of trouble against the Galicians. Little by little, Atleti is recomposing its figure after suffering two defeats in the League against Barça (4-2) and Levante (0-1).
The Real Madrid he consumed one more day and maintains the difference with his pursuers. Once again, a single goal from Benzema (83′) against the Lightning in Vallecas to take another three points and lead (60) with sufficiency the classification, nine ahead of Sevilla (51), with one less game, today against Betis (46′). Despite the president’s optimism Joan Laporta, the goal of catching the whites is getting more and more complicated. They have just 12 days left to lift a new title.
Barça will have to take the calculator out of their pocket. If he wins today, he will snatch Atleti that fourth place for the best goal-average (a +14 for a +12), also hoping to make good the three points pending from the postponed game against Rayo. He will also look askance at the Andalusian derby Seville-Betis. A tie, with each team subtracting two points, would be fabulous
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