Barça galvanised by chance to triumph in a tight race in La Liga

Barça galvanised by chance to triumph in a tight race in La Liga

The Catalans are driven by the opportunity to win the closest title chase in recent memory, with three games left and the top three contenders separated by just one point

There are three games remaining in the 2015/16 La Liga and there are three teams in the chase for the title, all but ensuring a nail-biting, photo finish that may be up in the air until the last minute.

At the bottom of the standings, teams struggling to avert relegation will be fighting tooth and nail to stave off mandatory trip to the Second Division. At the top of the classification, it will be just as intense, as three title contenders are separated by a single point with three games left to play — meaning nine points are still on the table. It is the closest race for the La Liga title since the turn of the century. Luis Enrique and his team know this and are using it as a point of motivation. Wins at Betis, home versus Espanyol and at Granada are the only thing standing between Barça and a second consecutive title, which would be their seventh in the last 10 seasons (see table below).

Only in the 2012/13 and 2007/08 seasons was La Liga already wrapped up by this point in the season.

Here's a look at the league standings heading into the final three games in the last nine seasons. Every team in first place at the time ended up winning the title. Teams that had already clinched heading into the last three games in BOLD.

Season

1st Place

Points

2nd Place

Points

3rd Place

Points

15/16

FC Barcelona

82

Atlético Madrid

82 (-0)

Real Madrid

81 (-1)

14/15

FC Barcelona

87

Real Madrid

85 (-2)

Atlético Madrid

76 (-11)

13/14

Atlético Madrid

88

FC Barcelona

84 (-4)

Real Madrid

83 (-5)

12/13

FC BARCELONA

91

Real Madrid

78 (-13)

Atlético Madrid

69 (-22)

11/12

Real Madrid

91

FC Barcelona

84 (-7)

Valencia

58 (-33)

10/11

FC Barcelona

91

Real Madrid

83 (-8)

Valencia

66 (-25)

09/10

FC Barcelona

90

Real Madrid

89 (-1)

Valencia

65 (-25)

08/09

FC Barcelona

86

Real Madrid

78 (-8)

Sevilla

65 (-23)

07/08

REAL MADRID

78

Villarreal

68 (-10)

FC Barcelona

64 (-14)

06/07

Real Madrid*

69

FC Barcelona

69 (-0)

Sevilla

67 (-2)

*Despite being even on points, Real Madrid were ahead on goal differential over the two games they had played against FC Barcelona that season.

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