Atletico Madrid climbed to the top of La Liga on Saturday night after a 96th minute goal from Alexander Sorloth gave Los Rojiblancos a sensational 2-1 win away to long time leaders Barcelona.
The battle for the Christmas Number One spot started well for the Blaugrana when Pedri went on a driving run into the penalty area, exchanged passes with Gavi and rifled the ball past Jan Oblak into the net. That goal was after 30 minutes and Barca looked in total control but, on the hour Atleti were level as midfielder Rodrigo de Paul seized on a poor clearance to score with the visitors second shot of the match.
It was all Barcelona for the remainder and Atleti only stayed in the game thanks to two superb saves from Oblak; and the Blaugrana’s growing frustration turned into despair when Los Rojiblancos went on a fast break, and when Nahuel Molina crossed for Sorloth the Norwegian striker swept the ball home first time to cause bedlam in the away end.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona started the season in electric form with 14 wins in their first 16 matches in all competitions, but the La Liga 2024 betting odds nudged towards Real Madrid after Barcelona lost to Leganes last week and now the Blaugrana have only one victory in their last six Primera Division matches. With 63 per cent possession, 19 shots to five and seven to four on target the Catalans will be wondering how they lost this game but this was a Diego Simeone master-class and Atleti are looking down on their rivals at Christmas.
Los Rojiblancos have won all five of their games in December and look to be in good shape for the second half of the title push, which has quickly become a three horse race.
Real Madrid did the business in their home match against Sevilla on Sunday, a game I suggested, here at SBOTOP, would be a serious challenge to Los Blancos. But, without the suspended Vinicius Junior, Carlo Ancelotti’s men dismantled Sevillla in a brutal first half thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo, and a reply from Ivan Romero made it 3-1 at the break.
The second half started just as the first 45 had and Brahim Diaz restored Los Blancos’ three goal lead on 53 minutes, and that was enough for the hosts to see the game out, Sevilla winger Dodi Lukebakio made it 4-2 late on and that’s how the game ended, with 75,000 fans going home very happy. The 2024 champions moved up to second, leapfrogging the Blaugrana, and sitting ominously a single point behind Atletico.
Bilbao are bouncing
While the Madrid giants and Barca bicker at the top of the table the Basque is alive with the football currently being served up by Athletic Bilbao, who cemented their place in fourth thanks to another good win, 2-1 away to a strong Osasuna side. Goals from Gorka Guruzeta and Alex Berenguer gave Bilbao a fifth win from six in December, four in the league and a Europa success away to Fenerbahce, and this successful festive run has included a victory over Real Madrid.
This is a team with some star quality in attack, including Euro 2024 hero Nico Williams, but head coach Ernesto Valverde reserved praise for Guruzeta saying: “He is a striker who relates well to the goal, but he relates a lot to the game and to work. This year he continues in that good dynamic and we are happy with him.” And the boss was also delighted with his defence which restricted the hosts to just six shots in the 90 minutes.
While Lucas Torro was on target for the hosts, Athletic managed to keep Ante Budimir quiet; the Croatian striker is third top scorer in La Liga so far with ten goals but he didn’t get a sniff against a resolute Bilbao back-line.
In other La Liga 2024 news Athletic Bilbao’s Basque neighbours Real Sociedad’s stop start campaign hit the skids again as they signed off for the winter break with a 2-0 loss away to Celta Vigo, a result which left the San Sebastian side in seventh, with a record of seven wins, four draws and seven defeats. Goals have been hard to come by with only 16 scored in 18 games and that is head coach Imanol Alguacil’s biggest headache at the moment.
But it’s holiday time in Mallorca as Real recorded back to back wins to move into fifth place as Cyle Larin scored a second half penalty to beat Getafe. Former Real Sociedad coach Jagoba Arrasate is doing a fine job on the sun kissed island having taken over a club which finished 15th last season… and Europa football is in his sights.
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