La Liga Tips: Messi can put on show, but Atletico will end Barca title hopes

La Liga Tips: Messi can put on show, but Atletico will end Barca title hopes

Dan Fitch expects Lionel Messi to deliver in what could be his final home game for Barcelona, but says Atletico Madrid will end their chances of winning La Liga.

There are just two games of the La Liga season left and realistically, it looks as if it's now a two-horse race for the title.

Barcelona's 3-3 draw at Levante on Tuesday, saw them spurn the chance to go top. With Atletico and Real Madrid winning their games, Barca now find themselves four points from the top spot.

The leaders Atletico are two points ahead of second placed Real Madrid. Atletico are the 1.37 favourites to win the title, with Real Madrid at 4.0 and Barcelona at 34.0.

Real Madrid face biggest test of title trio

Athletic Bilbao 5.9 v Real Madrid 1.61; The Draw 4.6
Sunday 16 May, 17:30
Live on Betfair Live Video

Of the three remaining title contenders, it's Real Madrid that have the toughest fixture on Sunday, when they travel to Athletic Bilbao.

In recent weeks Bilbao have made a nuisance of themselves in the title race, beating Atletico 2-1 in April and then dealing a fatal blow to Sevilla at the start of May, with a 1-0 win away. Bizarrely, these wins against two of the best teams in Spain are their only victories from their last 13 games across all competitions (D7 L4).

Real Madrid have already negotiated a similarly tricky fixture this week, when they won 4-1 at Granada. It seems unlikely that they will win with such ease at Bilbao, who are undefeated in their last nine La Liga home games (W3 D6).

Bilbao have scored in eight of those games and with Real Madrid conceding in four of their last five outings, this should be a competitive encounter in which both teams to score could land at 1.86.

Atletico will grind out another win

Atletico Madrid 1.24 v Osasuna 17.0; The Draw 7.0
Sunday 16 May, 17:30
Live on Betfair Live Video

Atletico held their nerve in midweek and now must do so again for the final two games of the season.

The pressure has been on Atletico for months. They've gone from being runaway leaders of La Liga, to just barely keeping ahead of the chasing pack.

This pressure was evident in midweek in their 2-1 home win over Real Sociedad. Atletico took a two-goal lead within 27 minutes, but with seven minutes to go, Sociedad pulled one back, to ensure a nervous end to the game. Though Atletico are short priced favourites here, Osasuna are capable of providing another nervous night.

Eleventh placed Osasuna have only lost two of their last ten games (W4 D4). Back Atletico to win narrowly, with a home victory and under 2.5 goals available at 2.88.

Messi's last show?

Barcelona 1.25 v Celta Vigo 12.0; The Draw 7.8
Sunday 16 May, 17:30
Live on Betfair Live Video

Barcelona's title hopes may die this weekend, but what's clear is that they must win to even stand a chance of keeping them alive.

It's been a really disappointing collapse from Barca over the past few weeks. They have failed to win their last two home games, losing to Granada and then drawing with Atletico. In midweek, they let Levante twice come back to claim a 3-3 draw.

Barcelona were 2-0 up and then 3-2 up in that match. The likely end of Barca's title hopes poses some big questions. Winning the Copa del Rey might not be enough for Ronald Koeman to keep hold of his job, while Lionel Messi's future is still up in the air.

If Messi does not sign a new contract this summer, then this could be his last home game for the club. There's no guarantees that Barca will beat eighth placed Celta Vigo at the moment, so avoid the results markets and go for Messi to score two or more goals at 2.8.