Monday 2 May 2016 16:28, UK
In his weekly column, Guillem Balague gives us the latest on the title race in La Liga after Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid all won at the weekend...
Never in the history of a 20-team La Liga has it been this close, and never before have these three teams been fighting together in a position like this.
They are the three most successful clubs in Spain but they've never found themselves in this kind of situation. It's extraordinary.
At this point the ends justifies the means. Coaches tell us the best way to win the game is via good football, but it's quite clear in the last few weeks they've abandoned so much of their essence to make sure they win. Especially Barcelona, but Atletico and Real Madrid as well.
If you had to vote on the best football played this weekend, it was Real Madrid for some parts of their game, but generally the three teams were really bad with the ball.
Barcelona in survival mode
Barcelona are displaying a very strange attitude in their matches because if you watch them play, it doesn't look like they are fighting for the league. Another way to understand it is that fear is stopping them from playing their normal football.
You have a team that is slow, doesn't move off the ball, and plays a lot of long, diagonal passes to feet rather than space. Nobody can beat an opponent - Lionel Messi tried a couple of times against Real Betis but Neymar was unable to do so - and there is nothing from the bench still. They have nobody available to make a difference and now even Claudio Bravo is injured.
Barcelona are displaying a very strange attitude in their matches because if you watch them play, it doesn't look like they are fighting for the league.
So Barcelona are still dependent on Messi moments, and the second goal against Betis, when he slowed to a walk and found the perfect channel for Luis Suarez, was the ideal description of the game. One final note on the match - as well as Barca's physical and mental struggles, the grass was left very long and very dry on purpose by Betis, which didn't help.
It is a question of survival for Luis Enrique's side at the moment, and Espanyol will go to the Nou Camp with no pressure after beating Sevilla to all but guarantee their top-flight status, and will look to give their fans some cheer after a difficult season.
Bale to the rescue for Real
The hero against Real Sociedad was Gareth Bale, as he was in Real Madrid's previous league game.
He did have three or four clear chances, but scored with a header - his ninth of the season - and that makes him the best with his head in Europe. He's now on 19 league goals, which is his best season with Real and two off his personal record with Spurs.
Remember he has managed that total despite missing time through injury, and now you're seeing a player much more comfortable when leading the line, as he does with Wales.
It means Real set up to play for him, but he's shown glimpses that suggest they will do well if they adapt to his qualities, and I think that's what Bale will be asking in the summer.
But there is a potential stumbling block. The exceptional circumstances of Real's transfer ban and the fact they have so far been unable to find a buyer willing to meet their price for Cristiano Ronaldo may mean Ronaldo stays. The Portugal forward's future is not final, though, and is one to keep an eye on.
Simeone corrects his error
Diego Simeone made a mistake by making too many changes against Rayo Vallecano, but he fixed it and the three substitutes were involved in their winning goal. Koke tried to pass to Fernando Torres, and the run ended up with Antoine Griezmann scoring.
Simeone needed to bring those three on because for the first time this season - perhaps for the first time in his Atleti era - he got it wrong with the team selection.
He put too many players together that had not played alongside one another and there was a clear lack of intensity and intention, but he got away with it.
The most important thing was winning, especially as the game was sandwiched between the two Champions League semi-final legs.
Villarreal on song
The final point from the weekend falls to Villarreal, who despite their changes still managed to comfortably beat Valencia.
Roberto Soldado played his role in the two goals - he is now a creator - and generally Villarreal should be praised because they are financially one of the healthiest clubs in Spain, they never abandon their philosophy and they have players coming through the youth ranks.
This is not the Villarreal of Manuel Pellegrini. It is actually closer to another version of Atletico Madrid, but they have managed to come so far.
It will be very difficult for Liverpool on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final and if Villarreal control the game and their emotions they will have a chance, but I just feel Anfield will turn it in Liverpool's favour.
