Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho blamed fatigue for their defeat to Sporting Gijon.
Mourinho also admitted the title was Barcelona's after going eight points behind the Liga leaders.
"We knew our limitations. The players are dead. Luck is part of football, our rivals had it all and we didn't," said Mourinho.
When asked about his team's title chances, Mourinho admitted that the fading hopes are now almost extinguished.
''The mathematics say that the league is not lost yet, but realistically, if the gap goes from five to eight points, then it will practically be impossible."
