Madrid derby a Real six-pointer

In Barcelona they joke that if Catalonia wins independence at least Real Madrid will be able to win La Liga. Come next Saturday night even that might be beyond Jose Mourinho and his men.

Spain is once again becoming a two-horse race, but the horse in second place is bearing the red-and-white colours of Atletico. Should Real fail to win the Madrid derby — or, still more unthinkable, lose it — then the champions could be out of the running with barely a third of the season gone.

Barcelona have taken 37 points from the 39 available, Real 26. No team has ever come back from an 11-point deficit in Spain.