Assessing the 'Big 3': La Liga's title chase

With six matches left in the Spanish top flight, three clubs sit separated by a mere four points in an anticipated run-in that would have been unthinkable a month ago.

On Mar. 13, Barcelona sat top on the heels of a 6-0 drubbing of Getafe with an eight-point cushion over Atletico Madrid and a 12-point gap over rivals Real Madrid. A second consecutive La Liga title appeared likely for the Catalans.

A stalemate a week later at Villarreal was followed by an El Clasico defeat to Real and an astonishing 1-0 loss at Real Sociedad to flip the title hunt on its head.

During that same spell, the two Madrid sides made up ground with a string of positive results. Zinedine Zidane's Los Blancos won three on the bounce, outscoring opponents 10-1 courtesy of four-goal victories sandwiching the win at Barcelona. Real has won six league matches in a row.

Atletico followed suit, overcoming a loss at Sporting Gijon with wins over Real Betis and Espanyol to creep within three points of a second league title in three years.

Here's what the top three looks like with six matches to play:

Barcelona's consecutive league losses for the first time since 2014 have set the table for what could amount to a compelling run-in. All three sides are still alive in Champions League, though something has to give with the Barca-Atletico second leg, meaning that at least one of the three La Liga challengers will face at minimum two additional matches.

Barcelona's last six:

Opponents average position: 14th

Points from reverse fixtures: 12

Marquee matchup: If there has to be one, a penultimate matchday visit from Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol could provide the greatest challenge amid a straightforward final six matches. The last time Espanyol won a competitive match at Camp Nou was in 2009. If Luis Enrique's, Blaugrana haven't yet won the league at this point, the match with the Periquitos could decide it.

Odds to win La Liga: 1/8

Atletico Madrid's last six:

Opponents average position: 12th

Points from reverse fixtures: 15

Marquee matchup: With four home matches left, Atletico have the advantage in the regard, though a trip to Basque country to face Athletic Bilbao looms large for Diego Simeone's men. With Bilbao also in contention for a twice-consecutive continental berth, Los Leones will be looking to make amends for a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture courtesy of an Antoine Griezmann thunder-strike.

Odds to win La Liga: 8/1

Real Madrid's last six:

Opponents average position: 12th

Points from reverse fixtures: 13

Marquee matchup: With a mid-December defeat at Villarreal accounting for one of Real's four league losses this year, a visit from the Yellow Submarine provides both an opportunity for redemption and potentially Zidane's lot's toughest challenge. Four of the remaining six away from the Santiago Bernabeu won't help Real's case, though the momentum stemming from the victory at the Camp Nou could be enough to make up four points out of a possible 18.

Odds to win La Liga: 9/1