Barcelona has taken just one point from nine available over their past three La Liga matches, which has opened up the possibility of a title race again.

“There’s a league!” screamed the front page of El Mundo Deportivo. “There’s a league!” screamed the front page of AS. “There’s a league!” they yelled on the television.

Barcelona lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad in a trap match between the first and second leg of their Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona had not won at Anoeta since 2007, they had only ever won there five times in 19 and had lost three in a row.

“That ground must have something about it for us to have gone so long without winning there,” Luis Enrique had conceded. He described Saturday night as the “hardest trip left this season” and insisted: “This is the only game that exists.” 

Lionel Messi and Neymar have seemed to go into a rut of late, while Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are struggling physically.

With six games left, Barcelona’s lead is three points over Atlético and four over Madrid, but their unassailable head-to-head advantage effectively makes that four and five points respectively.

Barcelona face Valencia (H), Deportivo (A), Sporting (H), Betis (A), Espanyol (H) and Granada (A)

Atlético play Granada (H), Athletic (A), Málaga (H), Rayo (H), Levante (A) and Celta (H).

Madrid are up against Getafe (A), Villarreal (H), Rayo (A), Real Sociedad (A), Valencia (H) and Deportivo (A).

Barcelona would still have to drop points twice for Madrid or Atlético to have a chance.