The Spanish title race will go right down to the wire after league leaders Real Madrid drew 2-2 at Real Zaragoza while their bitter rivals Barcelona were also held 2-2 draw by Espanyol on Saturday.
Both teams have 73 points but Real remain on top due to better head-to-head record in their meetings this season.
A victory for Real at home to Real Mallorca next week will secure them the title. Barcelona travel to already-relegated bottom club Gimnastic Tarragona but have to hope that Real slip up.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The man who Real have to thank for keeping them in pole position is Ruud van Nistelrooy, who got both their goals and whose left foot shot just a minute from the end secured them possibly their most vital point of the season.
Zaragoza took the lead through a Diego Milito penalty after 32 minutes following a foul by Ivan Helguera on Pablo Aimar.
Goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez then produced a brilliant save to deny Ruud van Nistelrooy an equalizer in the dying seconds of the first half but could do nothing to stop the Dutchman's header from a Sergio Ramos pass after 58 minutes.
Milito then put Zaragoza back in front six minutes later when he danced through the Madrid defense before unleashing a left foot shot that gave Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas little chance.
However, Real refused to give up and, with the title at stake, showed the fighting spirit that has brought them back into contention over the second half the season.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi has been called The New Maradona and he emulated his hero with a goal similar to the Argentine legend's famous "Hand of God" effort against England in the 1986 World Cup.
Barca's Italian international Gianluca Zambrotta lofted a pass into the area and Messi lifted up his left arm to nudge the ball into the net just before half-time.
Espanyol, who had taken the lead against the run of play thanks to Raul Tamudo after 30 minutes, protested long and hard but to no avail and the goal stood.
Messi's second goal was far less controversial as he ran on to a pass from Deco before slotting the ball home after 58 minutes.
However, a lapse of concentration allowed Tamudo to equalize just 25 seconds before the end of regulation time.
Sevilla stay in third and still have an interest in the title race after their 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca left them two points behind the leading pair.
They survived the last 10 minutes with 10 men after defender Ivica Dragutinovic was sent off.
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