If the most diehard of Barcelona fans needed further proof their team is no longer at its Guardiola-era heights, they need only open up their favorite sports daily Monday morning. If they’re impatient, they can check here, here, or here, though no self-respecting Culé would get their information form the latter. Still, every source delivers the same shocking ews. For the first time in 59 games, Barcelona does not lead La Liga, their 3-2 home loss to Valencia seeing Atlético Madrid claim sole possession of first place.
Taking advantage of Barcelona’s slip, Atleti moved three points clear with their 4-0 win over Real Sociedad – an unexpectedly lopsided result against a La Real side that’s fought their way back into Champions League contention. Sunday at the Vicente Calderón, they may as well have been Real Betis. Atlético closed with three goals in regulation’s final 18 minutes to claim their 18th win of the year, a result that reinforced the gravity of Barcelona’s slip.
Gerardo Martino’s team hadn’t lost at home in league since April 2012, but they have given Atlético other chances this season to claim the top spot. Recently Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw at Levante only to see the Colchoneros waste their chance to go top after they were drawn at home by Sevilla. On Sunday, however, David Villa’s first half goal gave Diego Simeone’s side all it’d need, with second half scores from Diego Costa, Miranda, and the recently returned Diego allowing Atlético to put up the Barcelona-esque scored.
”This is something nice for the players, who have made such effort and go into every single game with the same intensity and work ethic,” Simeone said of his team’s effort on a night the Calderón honored the departed Luis Aragonés. ”Luis would appreciate the team’s courage, since he was a courageous type with character, just like this team.”
The Blaugrana couldn’t find the same killer instinct on Saturday. Despite going up through Alexis Sánches after seven minutes, Barça approached halftime with only a one-goal advantage. Shortly before the whistle, Valencia was able to steal a equalizer from Dani Perejo despite being second best for most of the half.
Three minutes into the second, Pablo Piatti’s goals saw Los Che claim an unlikely lead. A Ricardo Costa penalty gave Lionel Messi an equalizer in the 54th, but when Paco Alcácer responded five minutes later, the last salvo in Barcelona’s upset had been cast. Jordi Alba’s 78th minute dismissal sealed their fate.
“I would say to [my team] that everything continues, that we may lose the leadership of the league, but that we will still continue to fight,” ,” Martino said after the match, taking a broader view on a loss the redefined the top of Spain’s standings.
“We will try to recover the lost ground on our title rivals. We conceded chances to Valencia and they took advantage of them. We need to keep going and keep in mind how much this hurt us today.”
Barcelona could point to the loss of an injured Neymar, but the Brazilian’s other absences hadn’t slowed them down. Andrés Iniesta could only give them 25 minutes, while Carles Puyol was out. At each level of the field, Barcelona could make an excuse, none of which can offset the loss of their home winning streak, the end to their season-and-a-half run a top the league, or their disadvantage on a seemingly improving Atlético.
As Atlético incorporates players like Diego and Jose Sosa while continuing to mature into their contenders’ identity, Barcelona has new reason to doubt. Not only have they failed to win in three meetings this season with Atlético, but their home invincibility is no more. Their loss to Valencia could serve as a reminder that a huge swath of Spain present potential downfalls, or it could plant a seed of doubt that hasn’t been present in since before Pep Guardiola.
With Manchester City coming up in Champions League, we’ll soon have our answers. Right now, the two best teams in Europe appear to be Bayern Munich and City. Barcelona and Atlético each had claims to be in that picture, but having won only one of their last four league games, the Blaugrana are suddenly more vulnerable than their recent pedigree would imply.
Real Madrid take point at San Mamés
El Real’s result in Basque Country seems like a good opportunity to note the difference between their level and that of Atlético and Barcelona. But we hammered that home last week. Besides, one point at Athletic is not a poor result. Although Atlético Madrid claimed the first win at the new San Mames earlier this week (in Copa del Rey), comparing Real Madrid to their crosstown rivals is becoming an increasing unforgiving standard. By more reasonable measures, the Merengues got a valuable point against the league’s fourth place team.
Despite ceding control of the ball — their new 4-3-3 allowing them to manage play without dominating possession — Real Madrid went up early in the second half, Jesé grabbing a 65th minute opener while taking Gareth Bale’s spot in the starting lineup. Eight minutes later, however, Ibai scored with his second touch after coming on for Iker Munain, giving Athletic an equalizer that would hold through full time.
“In the first-half Athletic pressed a lot and that made it difficult to play the ball on the ground so we played more on the counter-attack,” Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the match.
“In the second-half, the intensity of their pressure dropped a bit and we played better in possession, we scored and had good control of the game.
“Bilbao scored a fantastic goal, but in general I personally am satisfied with how Real Madrid played.”
Kicking off in the last game of the day, Real Madrid knew they would pass Barcelona with a win. Their inability to grab one will surely disappoint them, even if may take a few days for that perspective to settle in.
The more lasting disappointment, however, may be Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension, with the Blancos star set to miss three games after seeing straight red in the 75th minute. Though the decision appeared to be harsh, Ronaldo is still set for a prolonged absence, one that could leave a recently goal-starved Real Madrid susceptible to draws without their biggest star.
They do lead the league in goals (61), but since switching to their new formation earlier this month, Real Madrid have only scored three goals in a game once – the five-goal outburst the saw Real Betis fire Juan Carlos Garrido fired. Sunday against Athletic, that lack of punch cost them, leaving El Real in third place despite a chance to pass Barcelona.
Elsewhere
- Granada 1, Celta Vigo 2 – Celta’s won three out of four and reached 12th after an 88th minute goal from Augusto Fernandez gave Luis Enrique’s team their seventh win of the season.
- Levante 0, Rayo Vallecano 0 – The possession-hogging Vallecano were able to retain 58 percent of the ball and limit Levante to two shots on goal, but Paco Jémez’s side remains in 19th place after their scoreless draw.
- Getafe 0, Valladolid 0 – Getafe is winless in league since Nov. 29 after a match that saw the teams combine for three shots on goal.
- Málaga 3, Sevilla 2 – Sevilla falls for the second game in row as Málaga stops their slide toward relegation, with late goals from Samuel and Duda giving them the home side its first win in five.
- Elche 1, Almeria 0 – Christian Herrera’s 58th minute goal holds up, leaving Almeria within two points of the bottom three.
- Real Betis 2, Espanyol 0 – The Verdiblancos’ first win under Gabriel Calderón gives the team new hopes of survival, though Ruben Castro’s late double still leaves them eight points from safety.
Others
Barcelona 2, Valencia 3
Atlético Madrid 4, Real Sociedad 0
Athletic Club 1, Real Madrid 1
Monday
Villarreal vs. Osasuna
Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | PTS |
| Atlético Madrid | 22 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 56 | 14 | 42 | 10-2-0 | 8-1-1 | 57 |
| Barcelona | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 16 | 43 | 10-0-1 | 7-3-1 | 54 |
| Real Madrid | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 61 | 22 | 39 | 9-0-1 | 8-3-1 | 54 |
| Athletic | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 42 | 28 | 14 | 9-3-0 | 4-1-5 | 43 |
| Villarreal | 21 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 39 | 22 | 17 | 6-3-2 | 5-1-4 | 37 |
| Real Sociedad | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 42 | 34 | 8 | 7-2-1 | 3-4-5 | 36 |
| Sevilla | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 41 | 37 | 4 | 5-2-3 | 3-5-4 | 31 |
| Valencia | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 31 | 35 | -4 | 5-2-4 | 3-2-6 | 28 |
| Levante | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 30 | -8 | 3-5-3 | 4-2-5 | 28 |
| Espanyol | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 25 | 29 | -4 | 5-2-4 | 2-3-6 | 26 |
| Celta Vigo | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 35 | -6 | 3-4-4 | 4-0-7 | 25 |
| Getafe | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 34 | -12 | 4-4-4 | 3-0-7 | 25 |
| Málaga | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 29 | -7 | 5-1-5 | 1-5-5 | 24 |
| Granada | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 20 | 29 | -9 | 3-1-8 | 4-2-4 | 24 |
| Elche | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 32 | -12 | 4-3-5 | 2-3-5 | 24 |
| Osasuna | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 34 | -16 | 3-2-5 | 3-2-6 | 22 |
| Almería | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 41 | -19 | 3-3-4 | 3-1-8 | 22 |
| Valladolid | 22 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 24 | 37 | -13 | 3-4-3 | 1-4-7 | 20 |
| Rayo Vallecano | 22 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 21 | 51 | -30 | 2-0-8 | 3-2-7 | 17 |
| Betis | 22 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 47 | -27 | 3-3-6 | 0-2-8 | 14 |
