The La Liga title race would go down the wire and it was expected because the men of Zinedine Zidane would not surrender easily till the last breathe. Atletico Madrid clinched a late winner, but Barcelona suffered a shock defeat and are out of the contest, while Real Madrid earned full points, which means the winner would be decided on the last day of the La Liga season 2020-21.
At the Wanada Metropolitano, Atleti dominated the game and hit the woodwork twice in the first half before having two goals ruled out for offside but fell behind in the 76th minute when a bullet header from Ante Budimir crossed the line before Jan Oblak could punch it away.
Atletico hit back with an emphatic finish from substitute
Renan Lodi in the 82nd minute while top scorer Suarez completed the comeback by
firing home from inside the area in the 88th.
Diego Simeone's side nearly conceded an equalizer deep into added time though when Chimy Avila caught sight of goal but Oblak got across to parry before grabbing the ball with both hands.
“The team played a great game,” Simeone said after the match.
“We had a great first half where we created chances, we
weren't clinical but controlled the game, then Budimir scored a good goal, and
the team responded. When we had fewer chances we were more clinical.”
Simeone added of Suarez's heroics, “Luis came here wanting to prove himself from the first day. It's true he's been far from goal but he's always been there working for the team. He has authority. Who better than him to win a game that we were able to sort out when it was getting away from us.”
At Camp Nou, Lionel Messi gave the hosts a great start by netting his 30th goal of the season for the ninth time in his career.
But Celta were level 10 minutes later through Santi Mina,
who scored from the visitors' first effort on goal.
Barca were reduced to 10 men late on when Clement Lenglet received a second yellow card but the real drama was still to come as Mina scored in the 89th minute to secure an unlikely victory for Celta.
The defeat was a bolt from the blue.
“We were really good
in the first half, they didn't really create much and took their one chance
when they got it,” Jordi Alba said after the match.
“We had the game under control but in the second half just lost our heads a bit. They play really good football, they made it difficult for us and their second goal is unlucky for us.”
Meanwhile, at San Memes, the boys of Zidane was engaged in a cagey affair.
The first half did witness a single shot on target, as
Athletic Club’s defence kept the Los Blancos at bay. The visitors were denied a penalty by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz when Jon Morcillo handled Alvaro
Odriozola's cross inside the box, while Athletic went closest when winger Alex
Berenguer fired a low free-kick wide.
The game improved after the break.
Eder Militao headed over the bar and Thibaut Courtois saved from Morcillo before Luka Modric's effort was palmed away by Unai Simon.
Casemiro hit the bar with a header, and then crossed for Nacho to give Madrid the lead.
Substitute Raul Garcia was sent off late on, and the result left Madrid on 81 points, hoping that leaders Atletico Madrid - on 83 points – lose points next week.
Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 16/05/2021 Atletico Madrid win, Barcelona lose and Real Madrid still fighting
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