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Hello and welcome to the live updates of an epic La Liga clash between Valladolid and Atletico Madrid. The equation is simple for the Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid - they simply just cannot afford to lose points here at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium on Saturday since that would mean giving an opportunity to Real Madrid to win the league title. While Atletico are currently in the race to win the title, sitting at top of the points table with 83 points, Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid are not far behind with 81 points and both have three points to play for this evening.
ATLETICO MADRID WINS THE 2020-21 LA LALGA TITLE!
The final day in Spain delivered what was promised! Both the Madrid clubs registered epic comebacks in their respective matches to take the title race right down the wire. However, another late goal by one of Atletco's best signings of the season - Luis Suarez proved to be the difference in the end!
It's full time at Valladolid! Diego Simeone is absolutely pumped up! Valladolid 1-2 Real Madrid
Meanwhile, Luka Modric scores for Real Madrid! A goal for Valladolid would hand over the title to Los Blancos.
3 added minutes at Valladolid.
THE TITLE RACE IS STILL ON! Karim Benzema equalizes for Real Madrid in the other match. Late goals from Real and Valladolid could still turn the tides!
82' Yellow card for Felipe after a needless tackle by Atletico defender. Joins Joao Felix in the referee's book.
78' Brilliant skill by Felix to find Suarez who produces a delightful pass to Carrasco. Unfortunately, the Belgian fires his shot wide.
Atletico are cruising towards their 11th La Laliga title!
67' LUIS SUAREZ SCORES FOR ATLETCO! A horrendous mistake by Valladolid as Suarez finds himself in acres of space. The Atletico strike fires in a brilliant left-footed finish to get Atletico ahead. Valladolid 1-2 Atletico!
62' BIG SAVE BY OBLAK! Lucas Olaza hits a brilliant strike and the Atletico goalkeeper comes up with a fantastic save. The ball landed in path of Weismann who heads it above the bar.
57' BRILLIANT GOAL FROM ATLETICO! Angel Correa scores a brilliant equalizer for the visitors. The midfielder shows brilliant skill outside the box and plays a clever shot with outside his boot at the bottom corner.
55' Yellow card for Marcos Andre!
50' Atletico continue to attack. It has been a very dominating performance by the league leaders but have failed to break the deadlock.
46' The referee blows the whistle. Second-half begins at Valladolid and Atletico are in the business straight away. Llorente crosses towards Suarez who gets his header blocked by Janko on the far post.
The players are making their way onto the field. Huge 45 minutes of football coming up in Spain.
Huge 45 minutes coming ahead! This season is certainly going down the wire. Remember, Real Madrid need to win their game and hope for either a draw/loss for Atletico. If the scores remain the same in both matches, it will be Atletico who will claim the title.
Half-time in both matches in La Laliga's title deciding day!
Valladolid 1-0 Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid 0-1 Villareal
Oscar Plano's brilliant goal has been the difference between the two sides.
38' Valladolid on the attack once again as they win the ball in the midfield and find Weismann inside the box. However, the striker's header goes straight into the hands of Oblak.
32' Huge opportunity for Atletico! Luis Suarez finds some space and comes up with a beautiful left-fotted strike on goal. Just headed clear by the defender for a corner.
It's 30 minutes into the Saturday Blockbuster in Spain. No changes in the top two positions as both the Madrid clubs find themselves a goal down.
27' Almost an own goal by Valladolid! Tripper whips in a good cross and El Yamiq tries to clear it. However, the centre back makes a mess of it and heads it just past the goal. Corner for Atletico!
Incredible drama in La Laliga! Yeremi Pino has scored against Real Madrid in the other game. It's Real Madrid 0-1 Villareal. Atletico remains at top of the table as of now.
17' And now, Atletico attacks from the right and gets their first corner of the game. And its a goal for Valladoid on the counter as Oscar Plano keeps his calm and fires in a perfect finish! Massive moment in the title race. Valladolid 1-0 Atletico.
15' The first corner of the game goes to Valladolid. Well cleared be Felipe.
12' Another half-chance for the visitors. Tripper delivers a good cross from the right and finds Saul inside the box. The midfielders heads it into the ground before it was acrobatically cleared by the defenders.
9' The game opening up! Carrasco fires in a deadly cross inside the box and the ball landed up in Luis Suarez's feet. The striker fires in a shot but no damage done.
2' Good start to the game. An early chance for Luis Suarez but well defended by the home side.
9:30 PM: The 2020-21 La Laliga title decider has kicked off at the Estadio José Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid.
9:25 PM: The fate for Atletico is in their own hands - Win the match and claim the club's 11th La Laliga title!
9:20 PM: All eyes will be on the star man Luis Suarez who has scored 20 goals for Atletico this season, including the crucial late winner against Osasuna last week.
9:15 PM: The Atletico Madrid players have finished their pre-match warm-ups. Luis Suarez and Yannick Carrasco were looking quite relaxed as they shared a laugh while leaving the field.
8:59 PM: Just about half an hour away from the kick off! Will it be the Atletico Madrid fans or the Real Madrid ones cheering at the blow of the final whistle?
8:37 PM: Diego Simeone has made just one change to the team that started against Osasuna with Jose Maria Gimenez coming in place of Stefan Savic who is out with a suspension. Meanwhile, Sergio Gonzalez has made as many as eight changes from the last XI and Saidy Janko, Kiko Olivas, Jawad El Yamiq, Fede San Emeterio, Roque Mesa, Toni Villa, Shon Weissman and Marcos Andre have all walked into the starting XI for this side.
8:20 PM: Real Valladolid team news
Starting line-up: Masip, Janko, Olivas, El Yamiq, Olaza, Plano, San Emeterio, Mesa, Villa, Weissman, Marcos Andre
Substitutes: Samu Perez, Luis Perez, Joaquin, Sanchez, Nacho, Hervias, Kike Perez, Michel, Jota, Waldo, Guardiola
Atletico Madrid team news
Starting line-up: Oblak, Trippier, Felipe, Gimenez, Hermoso, Llorente, Koke, Saul, Carrasco, Correa, Suarez
Substitutes: Grbic, Lodi, Vrsaljko, Kondogbia, Torreira, Herrera, Vitolo, Joao Félix, Dembele
8:15 PM: The starting XIs are out:
8:03 PM: Atletico Madrid have won 10 out of our last 11 matches against Valladolid and that should suggest another usual day in the business should seal it for them but the fact that La Liga title is at stake may add that extra pressure on them.
7:50 PM: As far as Atletico Madrid's record away in Valladolid are concerned, it does not seem to be a fortress for the home team. Atletico Madrid have won four of the last five La Liga games in Valladolid, drawing their last game here in October 2019.
7:40 PM: Recent form in La Liga: Real Valladolid haven't won a single game in their last five matches in La Liga losing their last three matches. In fact, they haven't won any of their last 11 league games, drawing 6 and losing 5. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid not only have won three of their last five matches, losing only one, they are heading into this clash on the back of two back to back wins.
7:30 PM: Last meeting: The last time the two teams met was in December and it was Atletico Madrid who had registered a 2-0 win on that occasion. A similar result here would mean Atletico Madrid will be the La Liga Champions for the season.
7:20 PM: Head to head: It is the Atletico Madrid who boast of a better head to head record against Real Valladolid as they have won 23 out of a total 42 matches played between the two sides. In contract, Real Valladolid have tasted just five wins against Atletico Madrid and will need to bring out their A game this evening.
7:15 PM: Time for a quick look at the team news for this game.
7:00 PM: It's one of those days when even as a fan, one can feel the butterflies in the stomach. It's all come down to the final round and we still don't have a winner yet. With all to play for, Atletico Madrid are facing Valladolid at the latter's home. But make no mistake, Valladolid are fighting relegation themselves here and a win would give them some chance of remaining in the Spanish top flight. Even a draw against Atletico who at one point looked miles ahead of others in the title race would be huge for their confidence. However, the at the end of it all, one would get a sense of which one of the Madrid fan base is the happier of the two - the Atletico Madrid or the Real Madrid.
However, if Atletico end up drawing their clash against Valladolid and Real Madrid bag the three points against Villarreal, it will be Real Madrid who will be crowned La Liga champions as they have a better head-to-head record this season. The ball's in the court of Atletico as long as they don't drop points.