A last-gasp goal in each of Real Madrid and Barcelona games turned things in favor of Los Meringues, who were an inch closer to losing their Primera Liga summit. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored in the 90th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Real at Real Zaragoza, while Espanyol's Raul Tamudo shattered Barca's title hopes with an equalizer at almost the same time to make it 2-2 at Nou Camp. Third-placed Sevilla failed to capitalize on the results, as they were held to a goalless draw at Mallorca. Real remain on top of the table with 73 points, on level with second-placed Barca but the former lead in the head-to-head record while Sevilla lie third on 71 points with one match to go. At Nou Camp, Barcelona looked more dangerous during the opening half hour but Espanyol were ready to take advantage of the shaky Barca backline which they capitalized on its errors. In the 30th minute, former Barca playmaker Ivan Delapena produced a sublime pass to release Tamudo, exposing the Barca back four with the magnificent through, and the Espanyol skipper dispatched a fierce shot into the top corner. Barca fans were stunned, but they were given a lifeline when news came from La Romareda that Real are a goal down as well. A handball by Ivan Helguera resulted in a penalty for Zaragoza, and their top scorer Diego Milito stepped in to score the opener in the 32nd minute. Two minutes before half-time, Lionel Messi vindicated his usual comparison with Argentine legend Diego Maradona, but this time for the wrong reason.
Messi's brace was not enough Gianluca Zambrotta's deflected cross became too high for the 169 cm striker, who clearly snaffled in a diving handball into Espanyol's net, but the linesman made no reaction and the goal stood. It looked good for Barca at halftime, as they were leading the standings by that time with a one-point lead. In the 57th minute, Barca's joy was doubled when Messi scored his second with a low right-footed finish, but yet again something happened at Romareda at the same moment. This time it was a goal for Real, Dutch hitman Van Nistelrooy headed in Sergio Ramos' cross for the equalizer. Seven minutes later, the Camp Nou fans went wild after news confirmed that Zaragoza were in front again. Pablo Aimar dribbled superbly past three Real defenders, releasing Milito who looked ready to unleash his ball, but the Argentine fired home after skillfully deceiving Roberto Carlos who swept the pitch with the tackle. Everything was going in Barca's way until the last minute, an unbelievable thriller struck as the clock hit 90 minutes, when two goals were scored at the same moment for the third time. In a typical fashion, Tamudo managed to expose the Barca defense with a clever movement, as the Spain international slotted in Rufete's through pass into Victor Valdes' net. Barca suffered a double stunner as Liga top scorer Van Nistelrooy hit an empty net, following Cesar Sanchez's save from Gonzalo Higuain's shot.
