Saturday evening's match was billed as a "radio game" because, with the Real Zaragoza-Madrid match kicking off at the same time, the crowd were as interested in the commentary from La Romareda as they were in the action at the Nou Camp.

It is symptomatic of Barcelona fans' obsession with Madrid that news of Zaragoza's goals got as big if not a bigger cheer as those scored by their own team. But in the end there was nothing to cheer about. La Vanguardia, the Barcelona daily, headlined their match report "Another useless exhibition match" as, since Christmas, Barcelona have displayed all the football arts except that of holding on to a lead, while Madrid, not so pretty to watch, have excelled in the art of la remontada coming from behind.

Exhibit A on Saturday was Lionel Messi, who scored both Barcelona goals. He seems to have taken to heart the role as "the new Maradona", his mentor and hero. Earlier this season he produced a near-perfect copy of Diego Maradona's legendary slalom goal against England in the 1986 World Cup finals. Against Espanyol he reproduced Maradona's notorious "Hand of God" (also against England in 1986) when he appeared to head home the first-half equaliser, but in fact palmed it in with his left hand.

Asked about the goal later, the 20-year-old Argentina star said he only regretted that "in the end it gained us nothing more than a point". He denied that he set out to emulate his hero, saying: "Diego is a unique player, there will never be another like him."

Barcelona, without Ronaldinho, who was serving a one-match ban, controlled the match, with Deco and Xavi commanding the midfield, but as so often this season, they never looked capable of putting the match beyond the reach of their rivals. Xavi said later that the match "sums up our season". Ironically, while Barcelona had to bank on the talents of an Argentinian, it was a Catalan, Raúl Tamudo, who shattered their dreams. His two goals for Espanyol make him the club's all-time leading scorer.

Everything hinges on the last match day of the season, when Madrid face Real Mallorca and Barcelona take on relegated Gimnastic. If both contenders win, the league will go to Madrid because they have a better record this season in head-to-head meetings. The outside bet is that Madrid and Barcelona both lose, Seville win and snatch the title by a point.

With so much at stake, it can only be a matter of a day or two before rumours surface of the maletón (briefcase), the term given by conspiracy theorists to the practice of offering money to teams who have nothing to play for in exchange for throwing a game.