La Liga Title To Be Decided On Final Day Of The Season

Source: thewillnigeria.com

Real Madrid may have extended their lead over second-placed Barcelona at the top of La Liga to four points on Sunday but coach Carlo Ancelotti still expects the title to be decided on the final day of the campaign.

Real took full advantage of Barca's 1-0 defeat at home to Malaga on Saturday as their 2-0 win at Elche lifted them to 60 points with 14 games left, with Barca on 56, three ahead of third-placed defending champions Atletico Madrid.

La Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo struck again for Real after Wednesday's effort at Schalke in the Champions League as Ancelotti's side went three straight games without conceding a goal.

Ronaldo, who appears to have overcome his brief goal drought, has 29 goals in Spain's top flight, three ahead of great rival Lionel Messi of Barca, who drew a blank on Saturday.

“This means the team is defending well and neither today nor on Wednesday did we allow the opponent many chances,” Ancelotti told a news conference.

“It was a key game because of what happened (on Saturday) and so we could put some distance between ourselves and Barca.

“With this attitude we will win a lot of games. We have an advantage but this league will be decided on the final day.”

Ancelotti, who is looking to improve on Real's third-placed finish in La Liga last term, said he had been surprised by Barca's stumble against seventh-placed Malaga, which ended the Catalan giants' 11-match winning streak in all competitions.

Playmaker Isco, who has been on fine form in recent weeks, also sounded a note of caution.

Real have two tough leagues games at home to Villarreal and away at Athletic Bilbao before Schalke visit the Bernabeu in the Champions League last 16 on March 10. The European champions travel to the Nou Camp for 'El Clasico' on March 22.

“There are a lot of matches left,” Isco said. “Malaga did us a favour and we couldn't let this chance slip.”

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