Barca feel the heat as Real set scorching tempo

JOSÉ MOURINHO once claimed that five points was just the right lead to have in a title race: enough to insure against an accident or an upset, but not so much that it breeds complacency.

One of those Mourinho mind-games of course – his team were five points ahead at the time – but with Real Madrid suddenly six points clear after Saturday’s results they are now in what you might call the Goldilocks Zone.

Real’s 4-1 victory in the derby against Atletico and Barcelona’s 1-0 defeat at Getafe provided yet another example of how fate, and match officials, can suddenly tilt the balance.