Analysis: Four things we learned in Spain's Matchday 33

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MADRID, April 26 (Xinhua) -- It got a lot tighter at the top of La Liga this weekend, while the struggle for survival seems to be reduced to three teams from five. Here are some things we learned this weekend in Spain.

1. Top three all struggle

It won't have escaped the notice of many fans in Spain that the three clubs who were named as part of the Super League project (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid) all struggled this weekend, with only Barcelona managing a narrow win, while Real Madrid was held at home to Betis and Atletico lost away to Athletic Club Bilbao. If you want to make a good case for an elite league with no promotion or relegation, perhaps you need to state your case rather more strongly on the pitch.

2. Barca have to be title favorites

Although they made hard work of their 2-1 win away to a talented Villarreal, who had to play much of the second half with 10 men after Manu Trigueros was sent off, it was nevertheless a good weekend for Barca, who saw how Atletico and Real Madrid both dropped points.

Those results mean that if Barca win their midweek game against Granada (which was postponed because of the Copa del Rey final), they will go to the top of the league with just five games left to play.

Two excellent goals by Antoine Griezmann sealed the win in El Madrigal after Samuel Chukwueze had opened the scoring for the home side and Barca coach Ronald Koeman will have been impressed by another solid display by youngster Oscar Mingueza in his side's defense.

3. Atletico blow it in Bilbao

Atletico Madrid's 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club is a hammer blow to their title hopes and means they will probably have to win in the Camp Nou away to Barca on May 6th if they want to win the league title.

Coach Diego Simeone was out-thought by his counterpart, Marcelino Garcia Toral in the first 45 minutes on Sunday night as Athletic closed down Atletico's attacks and hit them time after time on the break.

Although Atletico improved after the break with players such as Joao Tomas and Luis Suarez on the pitch, they could only equalize from a corner kick with 13 minutes left to play. However, they lacked the legs to push on for a win and allowed Athletic to recover the initiative and eventually condemn them to their fourth league defeat of the campaign.

4. Real Madrid face vital fortnight

Real Madrid struggled to create chances as they were held 0-0 by Betis, who kept Zinedine Zidane's side at bay with more ease than they may have expected.

Zinedine Zidane is still missing Toni Kroos in midfield and with his side's season likely to be decided in the next fortnight with tough home games against Osasuna and Sevilla, (who are only a point behind them in La Liga) as well as two Champions League semi-final games against Chelsea, he needs the German back as soon as possible.

The coach has commented that his players are tired after an intense season and the effort of two big European games could be what costs them the chance of domestic success this campaign. Enditem

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