Barcelona blew the chance to be crowned champions of Spain after they let a 3-1 lead slip to draw 3-3 with Villarreal on Sunday.
Josep Guardiola, in his first year in charge, saw his men smash away their 150th goal of a stunning season to surely secure the victory that would have put 10 points between themselves and Real Madrid with three games to go.
However, after Eric Abidal saw red for the second time in the space of four days, Barca let in two late goals - including a 93rd minute equaliser - to keep the title alive.
Having booked a Champions League final by the skin of their teeth on Wednesday, Barca appeared back to their purring best on Sunday, taking the lead through Seydou Keita on 11 minutes.
Villarreal had their own agenda to take care of as they pursue a Champions League spot, and Joseba Llorente levelled the scores on 22.
However, Barca’s forward line is more lethal than cyanide and Samuel Eto’o bagged his 32nd league goal of a superb season to restore the lead, before goal 150 arrived, supremely curled home by Dani Alves from a free kick on the edge of the box.
There appeared no sign of drama, but Abidal felled Nihat with 12 minutes remaining to earn yet another red card, Mati Fernandez making it 3-2.
And then Carles Puyol was turned inside out by Llorente deep into injury time to leave Guardiola cursing the Catalan air.
Atletico Madrid produced yet another unbelievable comeback from two goals down to score a last-minute 3-2 triumph over Espanyol.
Atletico had to win to stay within a point of Valencia ahead of next weekend's crunch showdown, yet they fell two behind through Anderson Nene (penalty) and Daniel Jarque.
Luis Perea also saw red for violent conduct to leave Madrid with a mountain to climb, but boy did they climb it.
Eight minutes into the second half Diego Forlan unleashed a belter to half the deficit, and the Sergio Aguero tapped home for parity.
Atletico pressed desperately for a winner, and Forlan found it deep into injury time - stroking home Simao's clever assist.
Deportivo are up to sixth after beating Recreativo 2-1 thanks to goals from Joan Verdu and Nunez Pablo Alvarez.
Malaga kept their European qualification hopes alive in eighth with a 1-0 win over Racing Santander, Albert Luque bagging an 88th-minute penalty to take them two points behind Villarreal.
At the bottom end of the table, Almeria secured top flight football for another season by beating Sporting Gijon 3-1.
Gijon actually took the lead through Carmelo Gonzalez’s header, and it could have been two when the same player hit the bar.
However, Almeria rallied and Miguel Angel Nieto’s sublime curler levelled matters before half time. Nine minutes after the interval Almeria took the lead through Kalu Uche, before Pablo Piatta confirmed their survival late on.
Osasuna remain on the very cusp of relegation after they were smashed 3-0 at Getafe.
In a bad-tempered game that saw Miguel Flano and Gonzalez Adrian red-carded, Esteban Molina netted twice and Ikechuckwu Uche once to lift Getafe three points clear of the drop zone, leaving Osasuna just one point above water.
Elsewhere, Numancia drew 0-0 with already-relegated Valladolid.