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Strategist Pep Guardiola admitted that there are practically no hopes of winning the Spanish championship.
Catalans defeated Madrid's "Atletico" 2-1 on Sunday after a fierce battle, but they still trail behind the capital's club "Real" by 10 points in the league table.
"I don't think we will win the championship, but we will fight until the end," Guardiola said. "Tonight we passed a difficult exam against a strong opponent."
The specialist praised Argentine Lionel Messi, whose penalty kick decided the victory: "He is a leader, reminding everyone of himself when the team needs it most. This player has been doing this for four years now."
Meanwhile, "Atletico" coach Diego Simeone said: "The result is always fair. The first half was tough, but after the break the game became more open. We could have surged ahead, but the genius Messi left us with no points."
