Who’ll win La Liga?

After Barcelona’s third successive league defeat, we look at what has turned out to be a keenly contested La Liga title race.

Just one month ago, if you were to suggest anyone other than Barcelona as La Liga champions come May, then your opinion would be immediately dismissed as foolish in the extreme.

However, out of nowhere, Spain’s top flight has become the most enthralling title race in Europe, as the men from the capital have closed the gap.

Valencia’s trip to the Nou Camp seemingly presented Barca with the perfect platform to put their midweek Champions League exit behind them, but they once again looked incredibly lacklustre as they slumped to a 2-1 home defeat on Sunday night.

What does the result mean for the La Liga title race? We look at how things could pan out with five games to go.

Form

Two goals to the good at Villarreal on March 20, Barca could do no wrong, but 45 minutes later, the seeds of doubt were planted.

Luis Enrique’s men threw away a two-goal lead, and have crumbled at home and abroad ever since.

Real Madrid capitalised on an indecisive Barca to secure a vital El Clasico win at the Nou Camp – ending the hosts’ 39-game unbeaten run.

Then, a fourth defeat in as many visits to Anoeta saw Real Sociedad inflict further damage to Barca’s confidence, before a Champions League exit and the Valencia loss left us all dumbfounded.

Since defeat in the Madrid derby in late February, Real have been imperious domestically. Seven wins in a row, scoring 27 goals in the process, has brought Zinedine Zidane’s men right back into the hunt – with Madridistas right behind their team following a stunning Champions League comeback against Wolfsburg.

Atletico have done what they do best and performed when it really …

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