Vinícius Júnior struck twice for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday to make La Liga leaders Barcelona wait to be crowned Spanish champions.
Barça would have completed their title defence if Madrid dropped points at Espanyol, but Álvaro Arbeloa’s side trimmed the gap to 11 points, with four matches remaining.
Barcelona’s next chance to claim their 29th league title comes in a week’s time, when they host Real Madrid in the clásico. Once again, only a Real win will stop Hansi Flick’s team from sealing the title.
Without injured forward Kylian Mbappé and with just three wins in their last nine league games, Real Madrid arrived in Catalonia at a low ebb. They knew that even with a victory to postpone Barça’s celebrations they are virtually certain to end a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
Madrid had more of the ball but were unable to convert that into real danger. Vinícius came closest in the first half with a deflected shot which hit the post. The Brazilian winger was engaged in a running battle with Espanyol’s defender Omar El Hilali.
Vinícius was booked for a foul on the Morocco international, who was shown a red card a few minutes later for a foul on the forward. It seemed a harsh dismissal and after a video assistant referee review the card was downgraded to yellow.
Real Madrid edged ahead early in the second half with a superb strike by Vinícius. The Brazilian exchanged passes with substitute Gonzalo García, beat two Espanyol defenders and slotted home at the near post.
Around 10 minutes later Vinícius grabbed a second, and it was an even better goal. Jude Bellingham backheeled the ball to Vinícius in the area and he produced an exquisite finish into the top corner.
Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Osasuna on Saturday briefly took them 14 points clear of Real Madrid.
Celta Vigo strengthened their grip on sixth place thanks to a 3-1 home win against Elche while Getafe slipped to a 2-0 home defeat by Rayo Vallecano.
St Pauli slipped closer to relegation after a 2-1 defeat at home by Mainz in the Bundesliga while second-placed Borussia Dortmund went down 1-0 at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
In Switzerland, promoted side Thun were finally able to celebrate a most unlikely Super League title thanks to a defeat for their closest rivals, after their form had stalled as a first major trophy came within touching distance.
Thun, back in the top flight after five years, clinched the crown after St Gallen suffered a 3-0 loss at home to Sion to leave the league leaders with an unassailable 11-point lead with three rounds remaining.
The club formed in 1898 had led the standings since early in the season but lost four of their last five games, postponing celebrations in the small town on the River Aare. They travelled to Basel on Saturday but, after taking the lead, lost 3-1 and ended the game with nine men.
Thun supporters arrived at their home ground to watch St Gallen on a big screen and their defeat started a party which promises to last into the night. Thun’s council approved all-night opening for bars and restaurants and the fans will march in celebration to the town centre to await the arrival of the team and their manager, Mauro Lustrinelli.
