There were some unexpected results in Spain over the weekend so join us for a full round-up of the latest action AND a look ahead to this week’s El Clásico in the Copa del Rey.
By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert
Madrid Derby ends even
Real Madrid and Atlético drew 1-1 in the derby at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday. Both goals were scored with headers late in the game, from set pieces, and by Uruguayans: José Giménez for Atlético; youngster Álvaro Rodríguez for Real.
Álvaro had come off the bench to equalise in the 85th minute in what was only his second appearance in LaLiga. On his first, he won the ball back and set up Marco Asensio for Madrid’s second goal at Osasuna the previous weekend. “From next season, Alvaro will be with the first-team squad,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said of the 18-year-old. “Few have his quality.”
But most of the talk after the game centred on the red card given to Atlético’s Ángel Correa for an elbow to the chest of Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger, which looked extremely harsh. “It would be good if we could all compete in the same way,” Diego Simeone said afterwards. And Atleti complained on social media, too. “Nothing new at the Bernabéu,” they said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Madrid looked tired after their big effort at Anfield against Liverpool earlier on in the week. “I don’t think it was physical tiredness,” Ancelotti said. “It was more mental tiredness because this was our 17th game in 50 days.”
Asked if the result meant goodbye to LaLiga this season, Ancelotti said: “It’s a little bit more difficult now, but it’s not goodbye. We will fight to the end.”
Barcelona miss chance to extend lead
On Sunday, Barcelona had the opportunity to move 10 points clear at the top, but Xavi’s side lost 1-0 at Almería and saw their lead cut to seven after 23 rounds of matches in LaLiga.
Mali forward El Bilal Touré scored the game’s only goal when he crashed a powerful shot in off the post in the first half after running clear of the Barcelona back line. It was only the eight time Barça had conceded in LaLiga this season, and only their second loss in the competition this term.
Still missing Pedri and Ousmane Dembélé through injury, Xavi rotated in defence as the likes of Sergi Roberto and Eric García came in. But it was a poor performance from the league leaders, who were also knocked out of the Europa League by Manchester United on Thursday.
“It was our worst game of the season,” Xavi said. “We lacked [ball] circulation, intensity, rhythm… we didn’t show the passion to win the game.” But Almería coach Rubi was delighted. “It was a historic day,” he said.
Almería are in 15th place, just two clear of the drop zone, but all of their wins in LaLiga have come at the (amusingly named) Power Horse Stadium this season and their home record is the fourth best in the competition.
El Clásico is up next
Madrid and Barcelona now meet at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the teams’ Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday night, before returning to action in LaLiga next weekend.
“We’ll pick ourselves up,” Xavi said. “Nobody thinks we’ll win LaLiga easily. We’re competing with Real Madrid. We need more passion, intensity and rhythm.” On Thursday night, his team will be expected to find all of that.
And ahead of the Clásico, Ancelotti said: “Right now, the Copa game is the most important one because it’s on Thursday. We’re close to a title and at this moment, that is the important thing.”
Valencia get first win under Baraja
At Mestalla, protests continued against Valencia owner Peter Lim ahead of their LaLiga game against Real Sociedad. But inside the stadium, the fans got behind their players and Igor Zubeldia’s own goal late in the first half gave new coach Rubén Baraja a much-needed win.
That lifted Valencia out of the relegation zone and ended a miserable run which had seen the club pick up just one point in their previous eight matches, but wins for Cadíz and Almería saw them drop back to 18th and there is plenty of hard work still left if they are to avoid going down this season.
Elsewhere, Osasuna secured an impressive 3-2 win away to Sevilla to move up to eighth, while Girona beat Athletic Club by the same scoreline at San Mames and youngster Gabri Veiga scored twice for Celta Vigo in their 3-0 victory at home to Real Valladolid.
Reinildo and Fekir out for the season
Two of LaLiga’s outstanding players this season will play no further part in 2022-23 after suffering serious injuries at the weekend. Atlético left-back Reinildo Mandava will be out for up to six months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the derby away to Real Madrid on Saturday and Real Betis midfielder Nabil Fekir will be sidelined for around the same amount of time after he was struck down with a similar injury in his side’s 3-2 win at Elche on Friday. The Frenchman’s problem may be slightly less serious after he played on through the pain for the last 15 minutes, but his club have confirmed he will miss the rest of the season.
(Images from IMAGO)
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