Barcelona remains at the top of the Spanish league standings despite experiencing a surprising 1-0 defeat at home to Leganes, a team that had struggled to find victories away from home all season. Both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid now have 38 points, with Barcelona maintaining the edge due to a superior goal difference.
Atletico Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Getafe, marking their sixth consecutive league win and allowing them to leap over Real Madrid in the standings. The team, buoyed by their 11th straight win across all competitions, will face Barcelona in a highly anticipated matchup next Saturday.
In their match, Atletico struggled against a Getafe side that had only garnered two points from seven away matches this season. A header from Alexander Sorloth broke the deadlock in the 70th minute and secured the win for Atletico. Meanwhile, Barcelona was unable to regain their advantage after Leganes took an early lead with a header from Sergio González. The visiting team primarily spent the match defending, with their goalkeeper, Marko Dmitrović, making crucial saves to hold off Barcelona’s efforts.
Leganes’ victory lifts them to 15th place, giving them essential breathing room from the relegation zone. Defender Jorge Saenz expressed contentment with the team’s performance, highlighting their defensive unity.
In other matches, Alaves drew 1-1 against Athletic Bilbao, ending the latter’s six-game winning streak. Alaves, struggling without a win since early November, managed to equalize after an error from the Athletic goalkeeper, helping them secure a valuable point.
Real Betis extended their unbeaten streak to four matches with a 2-1 victory against Villarreal, despite playing with one less player for significant portions of the match. The win moves Betis up to ninth place in the standings. Coach Manuel Pellegrini voiced frustration over a red card decision that he felt was not adequately reviewed, emphasizing the importance of video assistance in such critical moments.
Additionally, Real Sociedad’s match against Las Palmas concluded without goals, marking their first failure to win in five outings. The draw leaves Sociedad in seventh place, while Las Palmas sits in 14th.
Despite the surprising defeat, Barcelona’s position at the top remains intact, and there’s optimism for their upcoming clash with Atletico Madrid. This match could possibly reignite their momentum and reaffirm their standing as a title contender.
Summary: Barcelona retains its lead in La Liga despite a surprising defeat to Leganes. Atletico Madrid’s victory over Getafe puts them second in the standings, setting the stage for an exciting upcoming match against Barcelona. Other highlights include Alaves and Athletic Bilbao drawing in a Basque derby, Real Betis winning against Villarreal, and Real Sociedad drawing with Las Palmas.