La Liga, Round 20: Barcelona and Atlético Madrid both drop points

If you’ll forgive the wrestling analogy, the La Liga title race has turned into an epic triple threat cage match that promises to be talked about for years. After Round 20 we’ve reached the point in the match where to two wrestlers who’ve been dominating the action are down after a particularly dramatic spot and the forgotten third wrestler is back on their feet and looking to take advantage.

Speaking of Betis, their 13th lost of the season keeps them stuck at the bottom of the league, eight points from safety.

The first time Barcelona met Levante in the season opener, the Blaugrana put seven goals past the Granotes. On Sunday things were a bit different as Levante held on for a 1-1 draw, potentially dropping Barca out of first place for the first time in 59 rounds.

Eight minutes later Piqué redeemed himself in a virtual carbon copy of Vyntra’s opener. Xavi’s corner kick found the defender alone in the center of the 18-yard-box for an off-balance header that eluded Keylor Navas to even the match at 1-1.

Barcelona begins the second half the season with a trip to Valencia to face Levante, a team they defeated 7-0 in the season opener back in August. The chances of a similar scoreline on Sunday are extremely low as Levante has recovered well from that awful start to their campaign.

Gerardo Martino has decided to not risk Andrés Iniesta -- he has a minor knee bruise -- so he’ll join Neymar on the sideline for this trip. Lionel Messi is back and once again at full match fitness for Barca, something that should scare any opponent. More frightening though is that the two month rest the star striker got while rehabbing a hamstring injury has rejuvenated Messi who appears to finally have his full speed and quickness back.

Despite a solid start from Real Betis, it took just under ten minutes for Cristiano Ronaldo to do what he does best...score a ridiculous goal.

The Ballon d’Or winner dribbled inside from the right wing, moving to within 25-yards of goal, while being given far too much space by the covering defender. Once he got enough space, Ronaldo uncorked a rising shot that rocketed into the top corner of the net past a helpless Stephen Andersen. The shot was so quick that the goalkeeper barely had time to turn his head as the ball whizzed past him.

At the halfway point of the 2013/14 season we still have a legitimate three team title race, a solid race for fourth place and Europa League spot and relatively tight relegation battle. Not too shabby.

Essentially we’re waiting for someone to flinch at this point and it stands to reason that it’ll happen in one of these games when we’re least expecting it.