The next day, a huge piece of good news left everyone at Barcelona beaming with excitement.
Atletico Madrid had drawn again.
And this time, it was against their bitter local rivals, Real Madrid. The two teams scored one goal apiece and finished level.
Naturally, Barcelona were the happiest of all.
The first- and third-place teams had both dropped points.
Atletico Madrid had played 27 matches, winning 20, drawing five, and losing two, for a total of 65 points and temporary first place.
Barcelona had played 28 matches, winning 19, drawing five, and losing four, for a total of 62 points and second place.
Real Madrid had played 28 matches, winning 17, drawing seven, and losing four, for a total of 58 points and third place.
Barcelona had played one more match and were only three points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid. The two teams still had a head-to-head clash coming up, making it the perfect chance to close the gap.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, were clearly showing signs of fatigue. They had managed just one win and three draws in their last four matches, and had all but given up on the La Liga title race.
Still, that was for the best. Real Madrid could focus all their attention on the Champions League round of 16.
Atletico Madrid also had a Champions League tie to play.
Now, Barcelona were the only team fully focused on winning the league. After all, they had already been knocked out of both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
That midweek, Atletico Madrid would play in the Champions League. At the weekend, they would travel to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium to face in-form Sevilla, currently fourth in the league.
Apart from their loss to Barcelona, Sevilla had won all their other matches. They were now only four points behind third-place Real Madrid, so a push for the top three was not out of the question.
With their form so good, moving up the table would be a great achievement for the team.
Sevilla had not expected much at first, but Real Madrid had given them an opening. Their spirits were soaring.
They had a very real chance of winning this weekend's match.
Before long, the midweek Champions League fixtures arrived.
Atletico Madrid faced Chelsea. In the first leg, at Atletico Madrid's home ground, they had lost 0–1 to Chelsea.
Chelsea had scored a priceless away goal.
Now, playing at home, Chelsea only needed to keep a clean sheet against Atletico Madrid to advance to the quarterfinals.
But Atletico Madrid weren't going to just sit back and accept defeat. They would surely fight with everything they had.
Ninety minutes later,
the score was 1–2.
Thanks to their extra away goal, Atletico Madrid had knocked Chelsea out.
However, with both teams battling so fiercely, Atletico Madrid's speedy right winger Llorente was injured in a challenge and couldn't continue.
The post-match diagnosis found nothing serious, just a mild concussion.
Whether he would be able to play at the weekend, however, remained uncertain.
Atletico Madrid's schedule was extremely demanding. They had to play four matches in twelve days.
That kind of packed schedule was no way to treat the league leaders.
Atletico Madrid's executives scoffed at the league association's scheduling decisions.
Before long, the weekend arrived.
Atletico Madrid came to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
A piece of news before the match: Llorente hadn't traveled with the team.
This was a huge advantage. Without one of their attacking outlets on the wing, Atletico Madrid were in trouble.
In the hellish atmosphere of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Sevilla fought like warriors, repeatedly pressing the exhausted Atletico Madrid side.
The final score was 2–0. Sevilla scored twice at home and crushed the visiting Atletico Madrid.
In an instant, the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium became a sea of celebration.
Stopping the league leaders.
What could be more satisfying?
San Sebastian.
When Barcelona's players, warming up, heard the news, they all shouted with excitement, as if they had already won the La Liga title.
Even Li Mingyu clenched his fists and pumped them several times in excitement.
After 28 rounds, Barcelona were now just three points behind Atletico Madrid. That was only one match's worth of points.
Besides, the two teams still had a head-to-head clash coming up. As long as Barcelona maintained their current momentum and beat Atletico Madrid when they met, then even if they finished level on points, Barcelona would win the title on goal difference.
In this match, Barcelona faced Real Sociedad away from home.
With what felt like a buff boosting them, Barcelona's players began a ruthless assault at Anoeta Stadium.
Li Mingyu came on as a substitute in the 75th minute.
[Congratulations, host. You successfully signed in at Anoeta Stadium and received Real Sociedad legend Xabi Alonso's precise long pass.]
This skill immediately raised Li Mingyu's passing from 70 (75) to 80 (85).
Out on the pitch, Li Mingyu felt as though he could suddenly see countless passing lanes before him.
In the final moments, Li Mingyu received the ball near midfield and sent a lofted pass from about thirty-five meters out, finding Messi sprinting forward. The pass set up Messi to complete his hat trick.
Li Mingyu hadn't scored in this match, but that long pass left Koeman stunned on the sidelines.
What a hidden gem! Was there anything he couldn't do?
Even Messi, after scoring, sprinted all the way to the center circle and lifted Li Mingyu into his arms.
That pass had been perfect in both power and pace. In the moment, Messi had felt that all he needed to do was stick out his foot.
A shiver ran through Messi. Ever since Xavi and Iniesta had left Barcelona, he had never received a pass that felt this good.
Messi was unstoppable in this match, assisting one goal and scoring three to help the team thrash Real Sociedad 6–0.
At last, Barcelona were back at the top of La Liga.
Having played one more match, Barcelona had finally returned to first place on goal difference.
Four matches, with three, five, seven, and six goals scored respectively—for a total of 21 goals. Their terrifying scoring form showed that the Barcelona everyone feared was back.
There were still nine matches to play, and anything could happen.
The remaining nine matches.
At home against Real Valladolid, who were hovering just above the relegation zone.
Away against eighth-place Athletic Bilbao.
At home against Getafe, who had two more points than Real Valladolid.
Away against mid-table Valencia, the Bats.
Away against Real Madrid in El Clasico.
At home against seventh-place Villarreal, the Yellow Submarine.
Away against eleventh-place Levante.
Barcelona's head-to-head clash with Atletico Madrid would come in the penultimate round.
In the final round, Barcelona would host Eibar, who were mired in the relegation zone.
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