Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio delivered the newest blow on Atletico Madrid’s title protection after their crew comfortably positioned them on the high of the Spanish league with a 2-0 win over Real Madrid on Sunday.
Vinicius Junior once more proved to be the distinction for Madrid, establishing Benzema and Asensio in every half of the Spanish capital derby.
Diego Simeone’s Atlético entered the Santiago Bernabeu, needing a win to rekindle their hopes of getting again within the title race, seven months after they beat Madrid and Barcelona in an exhilarating 2020-21 season .
But a commanding victory from Carlo Ancelotti opened up a 13-point hole for Madrid over fourth-place Atletico. With greater than half the season left, Simeone’s possibilities of a repeat as champion of the crew are quick dwindling.
“Madrid is in brutal mode right now. They reach your zone, and they score,” Simeone stated. “They deserved to win the game. I love how they play. They have strong defense, are quick on attack and are effective from the front. They are having a great season.”
The main risk to Madrid now are the pair of rivals Seville. Sevilla are in second place, eight factors behind, adopted by Real Betis 9 factors behind Madrid.
“We’re on a good run, the only problem we have is that the league isn’t over. We have 21 more games to go,” Ancelotti stated. ‘But I feel from the way in which we’re taking part in,’ he stated. I’m blissful. I do not rule out anybody (rival). Atletico has the expertise, the dedication and the character.”
Barcelona, the crew that historically shares most of La Liga titles with Madrid, suffered one other setback within the post-Messi period. The 2-2 draw at Osasuna left them in eighth place, almost 18 factors behind Madrid. Barcelona have recognized for a very long time {that a} fourth-place end is their actual aim this season to safe a berth within the Champions League.
Benzema put Madrid on their approach to a tenth straight win on mixture within the sixteenth minute when Luka Modric intercepted a cross from Kok Risurekian to launch the counterattack.
Benzema arrange by knocking down Atletico’s protection with a run earlier than Vinicius discovered his unmarked striker with a cross. Benzema did the remainder with a superb sweep of his proper foot to drive the ball off Jan Oblak for his league-leading thirteenth aim.
The league’s breakout participant, Vinicius, compelled Oblak for a one-handed save when Antoine Griezmann scored Atlético’s solely shot on the first-half aim. Griezmann’s curving free kick was saved by Thibaut Courtois within the thirty fifth.
Benzema, who was uncertain after lacking Madrid’s final match resulting from a leg harm, was changed by Luka Jovic at halftime.
Atletico improved after Simeone despatched Joo Felix and Thomas Lemar for the second half for Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco. But one other counterattack pushed by Vinicius settled the competition when the Brazilian discovered Asensio alone to rifle the ball simply contained in the put up within the 57th.
Luis Suárez was additionally suspected of harm, taking part in the ultimate half hour for Atlético.
Adolescent Goals Aren’t Enough
The objectives of Barcelona’s newest teenage expertise weren’t sufficient to save lots of Xavi Hernandez’s facet from one other sloth.
Barcelona had been 2–1 forward of Osasuna after 19-year-olds Nico González and Abde Azzalzouli scored their first objectives since becoming a member of the membership’s youth squad this season.
But substitute Chimi Avila pulled Osasuna degree with 4 minutes to go and went with a long-range strike after touching Samuel Umeti, who scored his first minute for Barcelona this season in Xavi’s beginning lineup. Played as a stunning inclusion.
Nico and Abde are a part of a gaggle of gamers underneath the age of 20, together with 17-year-old Gavi Paez and the injured Pedri Gonzalez and Anu Fati, offering the one shiny facet of a disappointing marketing campaign for Barcelona.
“Luckily we have our young players as they are handling the team. They are making an extraordinary effort,” Xavi stated. “We need to continue to grow, however it will likely be troublesome to interrupt out of this rhythm. We need favorable outcomes. We had this win and let it go away. ,
The draw at Osasuna got here after consecutive defeats to Barcelona, who’ve received the league solely as soon as on the street and will probably be knocked out of the Champions League for the primary time in 17 years.
Betis Rolls
Third-placed Betis continued her spectacular run with a 4–0 win over Real Sociedad, who completed fifth after a 3rd consecutive loss.
Manuel Pellegrini’s fast-paced assault has led to 4 consecutive wins within the league with a mixed rating of 11-1.
Left-back Alex Moreno scored twice and helped Juanmi Jiménez to his tenth league aim of the season for the striker and his sixth within the final 4 video games. Nabil Fakir scored one other aim.
Villarreal defeated Rio Vallecano 2-0 at residence.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
