Atletico Madrid, Barcelona set for final clash

Madrid: Atletico Madrid will travel to face Barcelona next weekend with the La Liga title on the line after both sides were held to draws on Sunday. Barcelona could only draw 0-0 at Elche but Atletico were held 1-1 at home by Malaga, and so Barca still trail Diego Simeone’s side by three points with a game to go. The Catalans will be champions with a win next Sunday thanks to a better head-to-head record. Real Madrid’s challenge is over, though, as they were beaten 2-0 away to Celta Vigo.

Atletico wasted the chance to seal their first title in 18 years at home as a win allied with Barca dropping points would have handed them the championship. Atletico fell behind 25 minutes from time as Samuel headed into an empty net after lobbing Thibaut Courtois, but Toby Alderweireld’s header nine minutes later did at least salvage their unbeaten home record in the league this season.

Barcelona, meanwhile, were held by a side battling relegation for the second time in as many games as they couldn’t find a way past Manu Herrera in the Elche goal. Real’s stumbling end to the campaign also continued as without the injured Ronaldo they succumbed to two goals from Charles to leave them five points off the top in third.