When Real Madrid opened up a 10-point lead in Spain, it looked like the league title was on ice. But Barcelona have won six on the trot since a shocking defeat at Osasuna on Feb. 11, while Los Blancos have drawn two matches in a four-day span, including Wednesday's ill-tempered affair at relegation threatened Villarreal.
After Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil were sent off in the dying minutes and Jose Mourinho was also ejected, the excuses came fast and furious from Madrid. Who would expect anything less?
And now there's a real threat that Barcelona can snatch the title away with a victory over Real Madrid at the Cam Nou on Matchday 35 considered a mere formality. And obviously Barcelona must win their remaining nine fixtures as well, but that has to be doable now.
So the question is will Real Madrid drop points? We don't think they will lose another match besides the Barcelona fixture - Real Madrid after all have only two total defeats this season.
The only tricky home fixture is a visit by Valencia that comes the weekend after APOEL comes in for their beatdown. Away there are trips to relegation-threatened Gijon - which beat Real Madrid last season - and cross-town rival Atletico. Keep in mind, Real Madrid has 14 wins and 5 draws against the Atleti since they returned to the top-flight in 2002-03 with 8 wins and 1 draw at the Calderon.
Let's say that Real Madrid draws one of those two. The other tough fixture where we see a slip-up is Barcelona's last banana peel - Osasuna. Los Rojillos have been beaten twice in 15 home matches and Real Madrid have failed to win in Pamplona each of the last three seasons. And the home side will be out to avenge a 7-1 loss at the Bernabeu.
This race is far from over. And even if Real Madrid do not win any trophies this season, there are still more important things to focus on.
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