13 May,2021 09:27 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
La Liga cover. All Pictures Courtesy/ PR
With just two points separating Atletico de Madrid, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona with only three games left to play, this season's LaLiga Santander title race is up there with the tightest and most thrilling in recent memory. Here's a look back at five other dramatic finishes of the last three decades.
Barcelona denied Real Madrid the LaLiga title in both 1991/92 and 1992/93, but the final day of the 1993/94 LaLiga season was even more dramatic. RC Deportivo were all set for a fairy tale first ever championship, having led the table for months, and just needed to beat Valencia at home to seal the title ahead of the reigning champions. An understandably nervous Depor missed chance after chance, and it was still scoreless at Riazor going into second half stoppage time. Across the country at the Camp Nou, the final whistle had already gone for a 5-2 Barça victory over Sevilla. Johan Cruyff and his team huddled by a radio in the dugout, as Depor winger Nando was taken down in the area for a penalty. With usual taker Donato by this time substituted, defender Miroslav Djukic stepped up instead only to scuff it horribly straight into the arms of Valencia keeper Jose Luis Gonzalez. Cue wild celebrations for Barca, and final minute despair for Depor and Djukic.
Deportivo's wait went on, but they saw their chance again in 1999/2000, going top in week 12 and remaining there as the months passed. With five games to play Depor were two points ahead of fast-finishing Barcelona, while Zaragoza, Alaves, Valencia and Real Madrid were all still in with a chance in a very open title race. With two games left it was down to just Barça and Depor, with both drawing 0-0 at Real Sociedad and Racing Santander, respectively. It was all down to the final day⦠again. This time Depor finished the job. Donato gained redemption with a third minute goal to settle the nerves, and Dutch striker Roy Makaay doubled their lead before half-time. Barça knew the gig was up and slumped to a 2-2 draw at home to Depor's Galician rivals RC Celta. The celebrations at Riazor were even more emotional considering what had happened years before.
Barcelona and Real Madrid battled neck and neck through the 2006-07 season, with Sevilla and Valencia also in the mix until late on. A 3-3 draw in the season's second El Clasico in March - a game in which a certain 19-year-old Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick - made sure it went right down to the wire. With two games left Frank Rijkaard's Barça were stunned by Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo's famous late âTamudazo' equaliser at the Camp Nou to give Real Madrid the advantage. The Santiago Bernabeu was shocked on the final day when visitors Mallorca took an early lead, while Barça were easing to a 5-1 win at already relegated Tarragona. Back at the Bernabeu, Blancos coach Fabio Capello withdrew David Beckham and sent on Jose Antonio Reyes, in what proved to be a title-winning swap. An inspired Reyes scored twice as Madrid roared back to win 3-1 and take the title on head to head record in dramatic fashion.
The 2013/14 season was another thriller, with the lead swapping between Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid as the months went by. Atletico were the more consistent team, going âgame to game' as coach Diego Simeone would say. All three teams had their late stumbles however: Barça were beaten at Granada, Atletico lost at Levante⦠but then Real Madrid also lost their chance with a 2-0 defeat at Celta. It all went down to the final day, with Atletico three points ahead of second-placed Barca and Simeone's side visiting the Camp Nou and only needing to avoid defeat. Alexis Sanchez's super strike put the Catalans in the driving seat, but Diego Godin's majestic header equalised. Lionel Messi had a late goal disallowed, and Atletico held on for their first title since 1995-96.
Real Madrid started fast and looked in control of the 2016-17 LaLiga race, with a rampantly in-form Cristiano Ronaldo scoring for fun. Barça refused to let go however, and Messi's hat-trick in a 3-2 Clasico victory at the Bernabeu kept the Catalans within touching distance. Blancos coach Zinedine Zidane kept rotating his team but getting results thanks to a âB-squad' featuring high class back-ups like James Rodriguez, Alvaro Morata and Mateo Kovacic. But Messi seemed to be on a personal mission to deny his biggest rivals. The Argentine also got a late winner at third placed Atletico de Madrid, and two goals in a 3-0 over fourth placed Sevilla. Real Madrid had a crucial game in hand however, and a 4-1 win at Celta put them three points clear going into the final day. Ronaldo's 14th goal in his last nine LaLiga games helped his team to a 2-0 victory at Malaga, and the title was Real Madrid's for the first time in five years.
