There will be no Spanish finalist in the Champions League this season, but the fans in Madrid and Barcelona won’t complain too much. The title race in La Liga is hotter than ever.
With three games to go, Atletico, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid are separated by just two points. Atletico Madrid is first, on 77 points, followed by Real Madrid and Barcelona, both on 75. Atletico and Barcelona met over the weekend, but they couldn’t be separated. Their super game at the Camp Nou finished with a 0-0 draw, meaning that all three teams have everything to play for in the last 270 minutes of the campaign.
Who do they play against?
Leaders Atletico have just a two-point advantage over their rivals. Diego Simeone’s boys will play at home in two of their three final games, while both Barcelona and Real Madrid will have just one home tie until the season’s finale. Atletico has two consecutive matches at Wanda Metropolitano, with Real Sociedad (5th place) and Osasuna (12th) visiting. They play away at Real Valladolid (17th) in the last round.
Real Madrid will first travel to Granada (10th), then to Bilbao for a big game against the Basques at Athletic Club (9th). Real Madrid finishes the season at home against Europa League finalists Villarreal (7th).
Barcelona has tickets to Valencia to face Levante (14th), then plays Celta Vigo (8th) at Camp Nou, only to end the season in the Basque Country against Eibar (20th).
Barca has already won the Cup this season and hopes to add another La Liga trophy after a season like no other. Ronald Koeman’s team lost four times in their first 10 games in La Liga, but bounced back, putting themselves in an excellent position to clinch the title. Defeats away to Real Madrid and at home to Granada kept them from the driver’s seat, however, as Atletico kept the lead despite not showing their best form.
Midweek action for all three title contenders
Atletico is at -125 to become champion, with Real Madrid at +275 and Barcelona at +300. Two weeks ago, the bookies had Barcelona with the highest chance, but odds changed after the Catalans were beaten at home by Granada and drew at the weekend against Atletico.
Given the context and their away record as of late, having won 11 of their last 12 away games, Barcelona is at -500 to win against Levante on Tuesday. There have fewer than 2.5 goals in six of Levante’s last seven home games. Another one added to the list is at +275.
Atletico to win at home against Sociedad on Wednesday is at -170. Atletico has seen fewer than 2.5 goals in their last five games against Real Sociedad. A sequel is at -125.
On Thursday, Real Madrid closes the title triangle in Granada. A win for Zidane’s men is at -250. Real Madrid has been winning at both halftime and full time in their last five away matches against Granada in all competitions. A continuation of that tradition is at +105. Granada has seen more than 2.5 goals in their last four home matches against Real Madrid in all competitions. Now, a fifth consecutive one is at -140.
