Spineless Madrid loses touch

"Until the mathematics say otherwise, the league is not over," said José Mourinho after his Real Madrid side had been beaten 1-0 by Sporting in the Bernabéu on Saturday. "But looking at it pragmatically and objectively, if Barça increases the lead to eight points you could say it's practically impossible." After Mourinho accused Sporting of fielding a weakened side against Barcelona earlier in the season, fueling Mourinho's conspiracy theory of a pro-Barça lobby within La Liga, Sporting coach Manuel Preciado could have been forgiven for reciting a stanza or two about poetic justice after the match.

Not only did Sporting's surprise victory all but hand the title to Barcelona, which earned a 1-0 win over Villarreal in El Madrigal, it also brought an end to Mourinho's unprecedented run of 150 home league matches unbeaten, a record spanning nine years and four countries. But Preciado clearly felt that Sporting had had its say on the field. "I'd like to commend Mourinho. He came into the locker room after the match and congratulated my players."

What had crippled Real against Sporting was the absence of the creative spine of its team; Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo and in-form France striker Karim Benzema. The only good news for Mourinho was the return to action of Gonzalo Higauín after four months out through injury. The Argentina striker will be a useful addition to a depleted squad against Tottenham on Tuesday.

Despite having one of the smallest squads in Europe, Barcelona has proven itself capable this season of coping without its star names. Shorn of Carles Puyol and Xavi, and with Sergio Busquets drafted into defense, Barcelona looked sluggish in El Madrigal and ignited only when Leo Messi appeared after half-time. Nonetheless, it was fortunate to eke out a third 1-0 win in five matches; Gerard Piqué appeared to handle the ball before lashing home from close range on 67 minutes.

In any case, a goalless tie would have done little to change Mourinho's forecast: in its eight remaining matches, Real must play five top-eight sides to Barça's two, including the clásico in the Bernabéu. Real has never beaten Barça with Pep Guardiola in charge and was humbled 5-0 in Camp Nou earlier in the season. "If you declare yourself champion with an eight-point lead and eight games left you can only lose the league," said the Barça coach on Saturday. Surely even the arch-pragmatist must now believe a third straight title is inevitable.

In Sunday's late game Atlético picked up three points in an entertaining 2-3 win at Osasuna to stay in the hunt for European places, three points behind fifth-place Sevilla which beat Zaragoza 3-1.