The last vessel from Spain's Champions League armada docked back at home on Thursday, with some heavy shelling to its hull. Real Madrid, eliminated 3-1 on aggregate by Chelsea in their semi-final, know they were spared an even bigger scoreline. "They were better than us," said Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane.
Chelsea were better than Atletico Madrid over two legs at the last 16 stage, too. Chelsea beat Sevilla 4-0 in the tail-end of the group stage in what has been a forceful romp through Iberia for the London club on the way to a European Cup final that, for the the third year running, features no La Liga team. That is a sobering fact for Spanish football, which supplied every Champions League winner between 2014 and 2018.
What Spain can boast, though, is the most compelling domestic title-race of Europe’s major leagues. With four matchdays left, any one of four clubs could finish the season top, and, in a happy coincidence of the fixture list, the weekend ahead is a double D-Day.
On Saturday, leaders Atletico Madrid go to third-placed Barcelona. On Sunday second-placed Real Madrid host fourth-placed Sevilla. Sevilla, six points shy of Atletico, are the only team in the quartet who cannot aspire to be top by the end of the weekend, although they are still in the race.
The suspense is heightened by the signs of nerves. Sevilla’s run of five victories came to an end on Monday with defeat to Athletic Bilbao, who had just beaten Atletico. Barcelona have conceded nine goals in their last five Liga contests.
The bruises carried back from London by Zidane’s Madrid add another dimension to the joust. The defending Spanish champions suffered a first defeat in 19 matches in their second leg against Chelsea on an evening that showed Madrid’s growing fatigue – they were outrun by a full seven kilometres overall by Chelsea’s players – and an unhealthy reliance on senior men short of full fitness.
Sergio Ramos, the captain, was rushed back prematurely in the XI. Eden Hazard is patently way off peak form, his poor performance at Stamford Bridge only his second start since January. Ferland Mendy, another coming back from injury, is lacking his usual zip at left-back.
The shut-out in the semi-final also reminded that when Karim Benzema does not figure on the scoresheet, there are few ready alternatives. “We were short in a lot of areas,” Zidane said.
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Chelsea v Real Madrid player ratings
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CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 8 – Pulled off two spectacular saves to deny Benzema and ensure Chelsea kept their deserved advantage in the tie. Aside from those stops, commanded his area well and was reliable under the high ball. Getty Images -
Andreas Christensen 8 – Danish centre-back played his part in a rock solid defensive performance from Chelsea. Positionally excellent, strong in the challenge, and brought the ball out confidently combined with good distribution. PA -
Thiago Silva 8 – A second successive Champions League final for the classy Brazilian, who marshalled the Chelsea defence with his typical composure. Had a couple of good chances to get on the scoresheet, too. Reuters -
Antonio Rudiger 9 – The German has been rejuvenated under Thomas Tuchel. Dominated in the air, won every tackle, and his sharp anticipation allowed him to cut off Real Madrid attacks and balls over the top. Reuters -
Cesar Azpilicueta 9 – The Chelsea captain led by example. His positional discipline and concentration saw him keep former teammate Hazard quiet and he helped launch counter-attacks down the right side. EPA -
N’Golo Kante 8 – Man of the match in the first leg, dominant again in the second; the French midfielder produced another trademark performance of breaking up play all over the pitch, protected his defenders, and offered support in attack. Will never be judged on his finishing but should have done better when through on goal. Getty Images -
Jorginho 7 – Italian midfielder went about his usual business, delivering measured passes and holding his position well in a game Chelsea dominated. However, his team’s lack of possession meant he was not as influential as in games when the Blues control the ball. AP -
Ben Chilwell 7 – The English wing-back comfortably won his duel with Vinicius Junior and offered a frequent option in attack. Should have had an assist if Werner had checked his run. Getty Images -
Kai Havertz 8 – The 21-year-old German is getting better by the week after a stop-start season. Always looked dangerous on the ball, ran Ramos and the rest of the Madrid backline ragged, and his clipped effort against the crossbar led to Werner’s opener. Hit the bar again with a header and should have scored when one-on-one with Courtois. His uptick in form bodes well for next season. EPA -
Timo Werner – 7 – Scored his first goal from open play in the Champions League this season with a point-blank header into an open goal. Beyond that vital contribution, his pace and dribbling caused Madrid plenty of problems. Should have scored earlier but strayed offside. EPA -
Mason Mount 8 – Chelsea’s player of the season was instrumental once again. Despite not seeing as much of the ball as he would have liked, Mount was always dangerous on the break and helped the Blues launch numerous counters. Scored the goal that killed the tie, although should have done so earlier when he blazed an effort over the bar. EPA -
SUBS: Christian Pulisic (for Werner 68’) 8 – Perhaps smarting at not making the starting XI after his goalscoring contribution in the first leg, the American forward played like a man with a point to prove. Ripped Madrid apart every time he was on the ball and set up Mount for the all-important second goal. Getty Images -
Reece James (for Azpilicueta 88’) – N/R – Sent on to give Chelsea fresh legs after Azpilicueta’s all-action display. Reuters -
Hakim Ziyech (For Mount 89’) – N/R – Another substitution to provide late energy for Chelsea as the Blues looked to see out the game. Reuters -
Olivier Giroud (For Havertz 90’) – N/R – Classic time-wasting substitution from Tuchel. Reuters -
REAL MADRID PLAYER RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois 7 – Couldn’t do much to prevent either goal but kept his side in the tie with save after save until Mount’s late finish. EPA -
Ferland Mendy 6 – Returning to the side after injury, the French full-back struggled to make much of an impact in forward areas and was often exposed when Chelsea countered. Getty Images -
Sergio Ramos 5 – Rushed back into the team after a six-week layoff, Ramos was understandably off the pace. Given the runaround by Havertz and the rest of the Chelsea attack. Picked up a booking for a rash challenge. Reuters -
Eder Militao 6 – Struggled against the pace of Werner and was often left outnumbered down his side of the pitch. Reuters -
Nacho 7 – The pick of the Real Madrid defenders but his frustrations threatened to boil over and was booked for his clash with Havertz. EPA -
Luka Modric 5 – The Croatian midfielder looked leggy and his impact on the game was limited. One tame long-range effort straight at Mendy summed up his performance. Reuters -
Casemiro 6 – The Brazilian played his part in helping Madrid maintain possession and stuck to his defensive duties, although given his role in the team, was guilty of allowing Chelsea the time and space to launch their many counter-attacks. AFP -
Toni Kroos 5 – Similar to Modric, the German’s creative influence was practically non-existent. Struggled to stamp any authority on the game. AFP -
Eden Hazard 4 – Back at the club where he became a superstar, the Belgian was completely ineffective, save for one decent strike that was easily dealt with by Mendy. Looked a player short of match fitness. PA -
Karim Benzema 6 – The French striker was once again his team’s main attacking threat and he was twice denied by superb stops from Mendy. However, beyond those efforts, never again tested the Chelsea goal. EPA -
Vinicius Junior 5 – Easily dealt with by Chilwell when in attack and struggled with his defensive duties. A quiet, ineffective game from the Brazilian. Getty Images -
SUBS: Federico Valverde (for Mendy 63’) 5 – Brought on in an attacking switch, the midfielder struggled to make much of an impact, although produced a fine last-ditch block on Kante. PA -
Marco Asensio (for Vinicius 63’) 5 – Another change from Zidane that ultimately made little difference to the outcome of the game. AP -
Rodrygo (for Casemiro 76’) 6 – Had a few glimpses that demonstrated the danger he can provide but didn’t get enough time on the pitch or on the ball. EPA -
Mariano Diaz (For Hazard 90’) – N/R – Sent on for Hazard but had few minutes to impact the game. AP
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Of the top three in La Liga, Madrid are the lowest scorers, behind even Atletico, whose reputation over the last decade has been built on eking out minimum winning margins and concentrating on their meanness at the back.
The Atletico formula, cultivated carefully by the longest-serving coach in elite European football, Diego Simeone, has yielded a Liga title before, in the tightest of circumstances.
The season was 2013-14, back when La Liga reigned supreme – the two Madrid clubs contested a Champions League final that year and Sevilla were winning the first of three successive Europa Leagues – and the title race was still being fought out between the trio, Atletico, Barcelona and Real Madrid until the penultimate matchday.
It remained a joust between Atletico and Barcelona until the last minute of the last fixture at Camp Nou, which finished in a 1-1 draw between Barca and Simeone’s bravehearts. Barcelona had needed a win to leapfrog Atletico; at the end of a sapping afternoon, Barcelona fans applauded their opponents, the new champions, and the only club to have broken the Barca-Real stranglehold on Liga titles in the last 16 seasons.
There are shades of that scenario in Saturday's confrontation, though there will be no spectators at Barca. One old friend, Luis Suarez, should be there, eight months after he was pushed out of Barcelona and snapped up by Simeone. Suarez’s 19 Liga goals for his new club are a major factor in Atletico’s topping the table, his close friendship with Barca’s Lionel Messi another highly-charged subtext to Saturday's battle for first place.
Atletico, two points ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid, have wobbled in the last five games, dropping points in two of them. And Simeone has never overseen a win at Camp Nou. Ominous for the leaders? “At this stage in the last stretch, I look only at the positives, like Suarez being back from injury,” says Simeone. “We are in a healthy position in many ways. But it’s no longer the time for thinking. It’s the time for doing.”
