The chasing pack sweat without reward just to keep pace with Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla are experiencing their own version of the Sisyphus myth. Each weekend they roll a giant boulder up the hill, only for Atletico Madrid's response to be to knock it back down and to force their title challengers to start all over again the following matchday.

Atletico Madrid are steadfast, even though they'll drop the occasional point here or there because that's logical. They don't mind if they play before or after their title rivals, at lunchtime or at night. It doesn't matter who they face or how many coronavirus cases they have in their squad. Diego Simeone knows this and knew that the Granada trip was the kind of fixture that can decide a league title. That's why he celebrated his team's win so enthusiastically.

Simeone's side knew how to suffer and how to leave their mark, adapting to the complicated challenge that Granada posed them. In the end, they won the three points. At full time of that game, at 16:00 on Saturday afternoon, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla already knew that they would have to push the giant boulders up the hill just to stay in touch.

It's fair to include Sevilla in this discussion because they are keeping up with the rest. Even if they don't manage to win the title, they'll have Champions League qualification as their reward for trying to chase Atletico Madrid all the way. At least that's something.