Atletico stay top after draw at Barca
Atletico Madrid remain two points clear at the top of La Liga but their draw at Barcelona means rivals Real Madrid now hold the advantage in the title race.
Real will move level on points with Atletico if indeed they beat fourth-placed Sevilla on Sunday, but would go top as a result of their head-to-head record.
The very best four can all still win La Liga in an amazingly tight title race.
Barcelona struggled to break their visitors down and sit two points behind Atletico with three games remaining.
Lionel Messi looked probably to make something happen for the hosts and forced Jan Oblak into a diving save after a gliding find the most notable of the box.
But the visitors created the better chances in the first half and Luis Suarez saw his strike well saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the near post.
'Title race still wide open'
Barcelona trailed Atletico Madrid by 13 points in January and boss Ronald Koeman said he never imagined they might have closed the gap to just two before this meeting at the Nou Camp.
That difference remains the same following an edgy goalless draw, but both sides will feel the title race is far from over.
Suarez, time for face his former side, embraced with old friend and ex-team-mate Messi before kick-off but posed a threat to Barcelona when the whistle went.
The 34-year-old Uruguay international forced Ter Stegen right into a smart stop and the goalkeeper then had to react quickly to palm the ball from the lurking forward after keeping out Yannick Carrasco's shot.
Oblak tipped wide from Messi who had Barcelona's best effort of the first half at the other end, however the Argentine really came to life with around 30 minutes remaining therefore did the hosts.
Gerard Pique's header from Messi's cross was saved by Oblak, before Ousmane Dembele headed off target late on and Messi curled a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.
"We are still alive in the chase for the title," said Pique. "We competed well and had more chances than them.
"It wasn't to be but we know the problem we are in. I think that is a title race that is still very much widely open."
The draw means Real Madrid are three points back and Sevilla seven off the lead, before their meeting on Sunday (20:00 BST).
Source: www.daily-sun.com
