Barcelona was one victory away from clinching the Spanish league title after Real Madrid fell four points adrift on Saturday, when Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in a 2-2 home draw to Valencia. Barcelona cruised to a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad at Camp Nou to put the pressure on Madrid with only two more rounds to play.
Madrid appeared set to keep pace after Gareth Bale and Ronaldo hit the woodwork early, but Paco Alcacer and Javi Fuego struck for Valencia before goalie Diego Alves smothered Ronaldo’s spot kick in first-half injury time. Pepe and Francisco “Isco” Alarcon leveled for Madrid in a dramatic second half at the Santiago Bernabeu that concluded with Valencia clinging to a draw that may cost the hosts the title.
Barcelona can dethrone Atletico Madrid with a win at its Vicente Calderon in the next round. If, and when, that match is played. The final two rounds are in doubt after the Spanish federation announced it was suspending all matches from next Saturday in protest at a proposed law regulating the sale of broadcasting rights.
Bale curled a free kick off one corner of the goal frame in the 14th, and four minutes later Ronaldo thumped a header off the other as Madrid looked set to romp. But that was when Jose Gaya, the 19-year-old placed a perfect cross for Alcacer to stab under goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the 19th. The Madrid crowd then received the double blow of midfielder Toni Kroos leaving with a left-thigh injury a minute before Fuego was left unmarked to head in Dani Parejo’s free kick in the 26th. After Madrid’s Javier Hernandez also hit the post, Gaya gave Madrid a lifeline when he fouled Bale in the box just before halftime.
Pepe powered in a header from James Rodriguez’s corner kick to halve the difference in the 51st. Valencia had settled down in defense when Isco curled in a long-range strike with six to go, sparking a last-gasp push by Madrid that ended only with the final whistle.
Torres gives Atletico 2-2 draw
Barcelona: Fernando Torres scored with 10 minutes left to salvage Atletico Madrid a 2-2 draw. The result kept the soon-to-be-dethroned champions in third place, four points above Valencia. David Barral opened the scoring for levante in the 32nd, only for Siqueira to level three minutes later before Kalu Uche put the hosts back ahead. Torres came on with half an hour to play and headed in Jorge “Koke” Resurrection’s corner kick which gave them the draw.