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The Spanish league took a step further closer to the finish line this midweek in its 26th round of games, but it wasn't one to write home about from purely an entertainment standpoint.
With only 16 goals scored across 10 games, 50% of the games ended in a 1-0 scoreline whereas just two games produced a winner with a margin more than that. Real Betis and Real Sociedad produced a dour goal-less draw as well.
But when it came to the stakes, Barcelona had their lead at the top cut to five points after being held by Las Palmas, while Los Blancos slip further away from them with a 1-0 defeat to Espanyol. Eibar and Girona fan their European ambitions, as Malaga remain rooted at the bottom.
Here are the major issues shaped up from an interesting round in La Liga.
#1 Is Barcelona losing steam?
Even if they continued to maintain a healthy lead at the top of the table, Barcelona haven't been at their fearsome best recently barring in the 6-1 drubbing of Girona last Sunday. In fact, that was the only game in the last nine that has seen them score more than twice in 90 minutes.
The recent weeks has seen the Blaugrana take some time to find their rhythm in a match, while the opposing teams have enjoyed unusually long spells on the ball and caused troubles. Against Las Palmas, the Catalans were stifled by their direct approach and lacked the cutting edge to bury the chances.
The stalemate was their third in the last six games in all competitions and on each occasion, were found wanting in one aspect for the other. So even if Real Madrid are far behind in the race, their crosstown rivals Atletico are breathing right under their necks as only five points separate them at the top of the table ahead of their showdown this weekend.
#2 Real Madrid just can't find a way out of the rut
For all the hopes of a revival that the two-time defending European champions have flirted in the recent weeks, they remain wobbly as demonstrated in the 1-0 defeat to Espanyol.
Without Cristiano Ronaldo leading the pack, Los Blancos were once again toothless and there isn't much left to be said about the putrid defense that was once again on the receiving end of the heavy firing. Los Periquitos tested the Madrid backline with as many as seven efforts, the last of which came in the dying embers and successfully found the back of the net.
As the gap now widens to 15 points between them and the top, Blancos can only watch themselves helplessly slipping away despite best efforts of late. The defeat is the latest in the string of humiliating results that have marred their campaign and no matter how they perform hereafter, it seems this La Liga just isn't meant to be theirs.
#3 Atletico continue to ride on Griezmann salvo
Just four days after scoring a hat-trick in the crushing 5-2 win vs Sevilla, striker Antoine Griezmann upped the ante against Leganes by netting another four to take his overall tally for the season to 15 in the league, and carry the Rojiblancos ever closer to Barcelona.
The Frenchman endured a dry spell at the start, which saw him accrue only 5 strikes from the opening 15 games. But the timely return to form holds Atletico in good stead with an all-important clash to the Catalans coming up this Sunday followed by the knock-out rounds of the Europa League where they stand an excellent chance to claim the much-awaited continental glory.
Diego Simeone's side struggled when Griezmann did, but now that he's found his shooting boots, Atletico collectively are gaining form. And that's a huge boost to their title aspirations as the final stretch of the season begins.
#4 Eibar and Girona can smell the European stage
The so-called minnows are belligerently in the race for European places and a pair of identical victories in the midweek further bolstered their aspirations.
Eibar and Girona are currently 7th and 8th in the standings with 38 and 37 points respectively, and well in contention to achieve their first ever qualification in European competition. As Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo continue to struggle and given Villarreal are on a free fall, the door's ajar for the league's also-rans to put themselves on the map.
The sides have shown tremendous grit over the course of the season and were once again at their intimidating selves in putting the latter two to the sword. The Basque and Catalonia outfits may still have some distance to go before the watershed moment, but on current evidence, they are well placed to achieve it.
#5 The relegation mix doesn't look like changing anytime soon
Whilst Levante continue to hover over the drop zone courtesy of a better goal-difference, Las Palmas, Deportivo La Coruna and Malaga continued to be entwined in the relegation mire and seems not much would change by the conclusion of the season.
Even if the Canarians managed to pillage a vital point from the table-toppers Barcelona in a surprise draw, the rest faltered again meekly without putting up a fight. Deportivo were given a hiding in the 3-0 defeat while Malaga extended their winless run to 10 with a 0-1 loss to Sevilla, their fifth on the trot.
These teams haven't shown any desire nor challenged the poor run. Leganes, who're 16th and sit precariously above the dotted line, even hold a 10-point advantage over Levante and don't look like getting sucked into the relegation mix. It's going to be between these four sides till the end.
