La Liga leaders Barcelona travelled to Madrid to take on last placed Leganes in what was expected to be a rather easy game for the Blaugrana. Barcelona started the game well, creating a lot of chances and it seemed like they’d run away with the game in no time. Coutinho opened the scoring with a brilliant volley after Messi’s lateral ball found the Brazilian. Messi himself got really close to scoring twice. His first shot went straight to the keeper while the second managed to beat the man between the sticks only to hit the crossbar. Having dominated the first half, it still looked like Barca would walk out of the match with all three points as play resumed. It was around the 52nd minute when a cross-field ball from Leganes found El Zhar near the second post as a sloppy Vermaelen didn’t do enough to contain the player. He equalised quite easily as Barcelona looked to start the game again in the centre circle. However, merely 70 seconds later, Barcelona conceded again as Gerard Pique made a costly mistake ending up assisting Real Madrid loanee Oscar Rodriguez who made it 2-1. The match did not see any more goals as Barcelona finally brought Jordi Alba on who opened up the field creating a number of chances.
Barcelona’s defeat meant that Real Madrid could finally take the pole position and all they needed was a draw. Sevilla however had other ideas. Sevilla dominated the first half and played fast counter attacking football to put three past Real in no time. The score line could have well been 5-0 as Sarabia hit the crossbar and Ben Yedder missed a rather easy opportunity. In the second half, Sevilla continued to dominate the game creating an array of chances. Real Madrid seemed to have finally pulled one back but the goal from Modric was flagged offside by VAR. Madrid were reduced to 10 men following Marcelo’s injury after they had already used up all three substitutions. Sevilla continued their game but lacked the decisiveness they showed in the first half which saved Madrid from a far worse scoreline.
AtleticoMadridhad the best game of the top three as they went past Huesca with relative ease. They put three past the newly promoted side to not just secure their 3rd position, but also create substantial pressure on the top two. They will have a good chance of taking the second spot when they play Real Madrid this weekend in the first Madrid derby of the league after their 4-2 win against the Los Blancos in the UEFA Super Cup.
