The most exciting title race Spain has had in over a decade is on hold yet again this week, and the big worry for Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla is that injuries to players on international duty could affect their league hopes.

The Spanish season began last August but unbelievably there are still two rounds of games left to play. Just like England, Italy and France, Spain has a 20-strong first division, but unlike their European counterparts they appear unable to end the season before the start of the summer.

An interminable two-legged Cup competition, the refusal of the players union to allow matches to be staged during the Christmas holiday period and a reluctance to play midweek league fixtures combine to make the Spanish league the longest lasting title race on the continent.

Almost every season there is a calendar crisis. Last year the Spanish Football Federation had to ask FIFA special permission to extend the season because it had no time to fit in a rain-affected match between Sevilla and Barcelona. This year clubs are battling with South American national sides to try and delay departures for the Copa America which begins on June 26.

Now a thrilling title race has been on hold because the season has run into the international fixtures which were programmed to take place when domestic duty is over for players in other countries.

“It is like Placido Domingo going before the last act of Othello, like Fernando Alonso getting out of his car on the last lap or Rafael Nadal leaving court at match-point, columnist Roberto Palomar said in Marca on Monday.

Atletico Madrid have already suffered a blow to their hopes of earning a UEFA Cup place with the loss of Fernando Torres for at least a match after he was injured in a training session for Spain. Let’s hope he’s the last of the casualties.

Simon Baskett, Madrid