Barcelona maintained its position at the top of the Spanish league despite suffering a surprising 1-0 defeat at home to Leganes on Sunday, a team that had struggled all season away from home. Atletico Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Getafe to surpass Real Madrid, moving into second place. Both Atletico and Barcelona are on 38 points, yet Barcelona maintains the lead due to a superior goal difference.
The match day began with Atletico winning its sixth consecutive league match, creating excitement for the upcoming clash against Barcelona next Saturday. Atletico Madrid extended its impressive form with an 11th consecutive win across all competitions, while Getafe had only managed two points out of their seven away games this season, making it a tough challenge for Diego Simeone’s side. The decisive goal came from Alexander Sorloth, who scored with a header in the 70th minute.
Meanwhile, Barcelona was unable to bounce back after conceding an early goal from Sergio González, who headed in the opener just four minutes into the match. Despite numerous attempts to equalize, Barcelona’s performance fell short, prompting coach Hansi Flick to make significant changes late in the game. Leganes’ goalkeeper, Marko Dmitrović, played a vital role in securing the win with several crucial saves, enabling Leganes to climb to 15th place, four points above the relegation zone.
In another match, the Basque derby between Alaves and Athletic Bilbao ended in a 1-1 draw, breaking Athletic’s winning streak. After going behind early in the game, Alaves managed to equalize thanks to a goalkeeping error. Both teams had opportunities to score the winning goal, but the match concluded with a fair result for both sides.
Real Betis continued its unbeaten streak with a 2-1 victory over Villarreal, even playing with ten men for much of the match after Ezequiel Ávila received a red card. Despite the setback, Betis’ victory propelled them to ninth place. Coach Manuel Pellegrini expressed his frustration over the lack of VAR review on the sending off, highlighting the inconsistency in officiating.
Real Sociedad’s match against Las Palmas ended in a 0-0 draw, marking their first failure to win in five matches. Both teams had opportunities, but poor finishing and solid goalkeeping ensured they shared the points.
This weekend’s La Liga matches highlighted the competitive nature of the league, leading to an exciting upcoming clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid that promises to be a thrilling encounter for fans.
Summary: Barcelona remains at the top of La Liga despite a surprising defeat to Leganes, while Atletico Madrid’s victory allows them to close in on the leaders. Upcoming matches hold the potential for shifts in standings, adding intensity to the season.