MADRID: Atletico Madrid’s dream of a first Spanish league title since 1996 faded after a surprise 2-0 defeat at Levante today.

Victory for Atletico would have left Diego Simeone’s men needing just a win at home to Malaga next weekend to secure top spot and render their final match at Barcelona the following week irrelevant.

However, an own goal from Filipe Luis in the seventh minute and a neat finish from David Barral 21 minutes from time meant Atletico failed to take advantage of Barca’s 2-2 draw at home to Getafe on Saturday.

Real Madrid were left with the possibility of pulling level on points by winning later today against Valencia and then away to Valladolid on Wednesday. However they also lost focus in being held 2-2 at home.

The two Madrid clubs face each other in the Champions League Final in Lisbon on May 24 – after the Spanish season has been wrapped up.

Juventus’ title

In Italy Juventus won a third consecutive Serie A title without playing when Roma, the only team who could catch them, crashed 4-1 at struggling Catania.

Roma, who had won their last nine games, went beind to two goals from Mariano Izco in a six-minute spell in the first half. Francesco Totti pulled one back but Catania pulled away again in the second half through Gonzalo Bergessio and Pablo Barrientos.

The defeat left Roma eight points behind Juventus, who host Atalanta on Monday with only two games left to play.

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