La Liga Hangover: Granada Safe Means Barcelona Almost Have Their Title Sewn Up

Welcome to La Liga Hangover, a weekly column running throughout the season in which we take a light-hearted, though in-depth, look at the key stories and talking points from the most recent weekend of action in Spanish football’s top flight. With a focus on the biggest teams, such as Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona, and a worthwhile nod toward the rest, we examine how the league is shaping up each week and what to look out for going forward.

 

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Atletico Madrid took a surprise defeat to bottom club Levante on Sunday and are out of the title race in La Liga.

Onlookers wondering whether Barcelona would slip up once more had probably earmarked Sunday as the moment: a derby game, Espanyol still needing a point to be sure of survival and all the aggression and animosity from the teams’ Copa del Rey clash in January. Well, that question was answered emphatically.

Barca came to play and win. Espanyol to fight and complain. Once Lionel Messi’s arcing free-kick found the top corner, there was never a scare for Barcelona that they wouldn’t take three points from the match and continue their march. Even better news came when the result from Andalusia arrived. Sevilla lost to Granada, meaning the latter are safe and have nothing to play for next time out, when Barcelona can take the title with a win.

Real Madrid are still there chasing, but even though they have jumped into second spot, they know they aren’t likely to profit from a slip-up at this late stage.

It’s about building confidence; the top three sides have finals to look forward to at the end of the campaign—the two Madrid sides in Europe and Barca in the Copa del Rey. At least one will be celebrating, and at least one will be left trophyless and disconsolate after a long season ends in frustration.

La Liga 2015-16 has been one hell of a ride, but Sunday all but sewed up the retention of the title for Barcelona. One step to go.

 

Jornada 37 Results

Real Sociedad 2-1 Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid 3-2 Valencia

Villarreal 0-2 Deportivo La Coruna

Getafe 1-1 Sporting Gijon

Eibar 1-1 Real Betis

Barcelona 5-0 Espanyol

Sevilla 1-4 Granada

Las Palmas 0-0 Athletic Club

Celta Vigo 1-0 Malaga

Levante 2-1 Atletico Madrid

 

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