Real Madrid 4-Athletico Madrid 0
Meanwhile Real Sociedad lost 3-2 to Celta Vigo leaving Madrid 2 points clear with one match to go after having gone into the match in second place

Match Review and Thoughts on il Fenomenon

A spectacular performance as all the stars came out to shine against Athletico with the title at stake.
Zidane looked a little tired as did Figo but they still managed to shake it off and deliver when it mattered most.

There was clearly tension in the air with it being a derby and with so much at stake but the team killed the game in less than 20 minutes.
By 30 minutes we were on a different planet and could already start thinking of the game at Vigo (where Vigo were already leading against Sociedad) and the game next week against Bilbao when the 29th title now lies in our hands.
The first goal had Zidane threading through an inch-perfect pass to il Fenomenon who finished spectacularly with his left foot.
The second goal had Figo deliver a better than Beckham cross to the foot of Raul in front of goal.
The 3rd was the same from the left flank to Ronaldo... this time the provider was Roberto Carlos.
The 4th goal by Raul (off another Zidane pass) was like icing on the cake but in those 30 minutes, the big 5 all stood up to be counted.

Almost everything was perfect, including the formation where Guti in midfield had one of his best games in ages.

So why almost... because of the ease with which young Torres made Hierro look his age... going past him with ease leaving the great man looking old and slow and clumsy yet again. I hate having to say this almost every week, and I love and respect the man for being the soul of this team during our revival in the late nineties, but he is dishonouring his legacy in playing on as a shambolic parody of himself.

But be that as it may, let's end by saluting il Fenomenon. Yes he missed a few sitters and could have had 5 goals last night. But just getting those chances is tribute to his genius. His runs, his feints, his intelligence... his absolutely unparalleled ability to see spaces and create opportunities where none seem to exist.

I have often called Raul the best forward in the world over the last 4 years. People across the world talk about Van the Man or Thierry Henry as being the best forwards in the game today. The Pichici title will go to Makaay. Sheva and Vieri will stake their claim to the title. But when il Fenomeno starts playing close to his best, and since the Christmas break, he is almost as good as he was in 97-98, none of these players come close. A Jaguar is a great car. So is a Lamborghini. But neither can ever be a Ferrari.

In the 4 years of darkness, we had come around to recognising Zidane as the greatest player of our generation. But the Fenomenon is back. And if he stays this way, then despite the 4 lost years, the son of Algerian immigrants in the suburbs of Marseille will have to be content to be an all time great, the most complete player of his generation... but not the Greatest.

Because the Greatest will be someone who at various times has been called unprofessional, overweight and mercenary... but who, at the end of the day, is just an exuberant, buck-toothed man-boy from Brazil who loves to score goals.

Il Fenomeno is ready to re-stake his claim as the only living player who can be mentioned in the same breath as Pele and Maradona.
The world's best-loved footballer is back where he belongs.
To the divine powers that control footballing destiny... we can only say thank you!