Guardiola gives up on league title

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that their La Liga title hopes are over, but insisted his side will continue to fight.

The Catalans met heavy resistance from Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday, but managed to edge the game 2-1 courtesy of a wonderful late strike by Lionel Messi after Dani Alves and Radamel Falcao had traded goals.

Despite the win, Barca trail leaders Real Madrid by 10 points in the table, and Guardiola wrote off their chances of winning a fourth-straight league crown.

“I don’t think we will win the league, but we will fight until the end,” Guardiola said at the post-match press conference.

“We have passed a difficult test against a very tough opponent.”

Guardiola took time to praise the Argentine Messi for his leadership qualities after the 24-year-old’s improvised free-kick gave Barca victory.

“A leader is he who steps forward when his team needs him and Leo (Messi) has been doing that for four years,” he said.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone echoed Guardiola’s praise for three-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, labelling him a ‘genius’.

“Results are always fair. We tried to play the game in a specific way and close down the spaces,” Simeone said.

“In the first half it was difficult for us and in the second half, the game was more open. We could have taken the lead, but a genius (Messi) left us with nothing.”

“The referee did well, although there were some little issues.”