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Diego Simeone: Lionel Messi "decisive factor" in La Liga title race

:Headline: Diego Simeone: Lionel Messi 'decisive factor' in La Liga title race: ID:322396: from db_amp
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone describes Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the "decisive factor" in the La Liga title race.

Diego Simeone has played down the prospect of Atletico Madrid mounting a late La Liga title charge as they cannot compete with a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona.

The Catalan giants came close to losing for the first time in the league this season at the weekend, finding themselves two goals down with two minutes of normal time to play against Sevilla.

A half-fit Messi was brought off the bench and helped his side to a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, however, bagging the leveller himself with a trademark long-range finish into the bottom corner.

Simeone's men are now back to within nine points of Barca after beating Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 on Sunday, but the Argentine does not expect to close the gap fully due to his compatriot's form.

"We're having a very important league campaign. We've already seen what happened at Sevilla," he told reporters at his post-match presser.

"Without Messi, Sevilla would have won 2-0. With Messi on the pitch, Barca won 2-0, although the final score was 2-2. Messi is the decisive factor. We want to keep improving our numbers from last season."

Barcelona welcome Leganes to Camp Nou in their next league outing, while Atletico travel to city rivals Real Madrid.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
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