Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona remain 11 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid with seven matches remaining.
Rayo Vallecano stunned impotent La Liga leaders Barcelona on Wednesday with a 2-1 win, outplaying the Catalans at a rowdy Vallecas. Atletico Madrid cut the gap on second-place rivals Real Madrid to two points with a 3-1 win over Real Mallorca, celebrating their 120th anniversary in style. Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona remain 11 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid with seven matches remaining.
After the champions lost at Girona on Tuesday their hopes of defending the title are virtually over, despite Barcelona following suit with a deserved defeat in the capital.
Xavi’s side have won just one of their last four league matches — a narrow triumph over Atletico on Sunday — as they limp towards the finish line and a first title since 2019
Barcelona’s mentor encouraged his players to be careful about Rayo’s message before the game, yet they didn’t notice his admonition. The Catalans have not beaten the Madrid club in their last four association gatherings.
“The association isn’t done, this is the issue – – we need to merit La Liga, today we merited rout,” Xavi told columnists.
“What bothers me is that today we didn’t contend how the game expected us to. In any case, we will get players back (from injury), there’s one more game on Saturday.
“Here a great deal of groups have lost, and others experience had a ton of difficulty winning. Fortunately, there’s one more game on Saturday.”
The mentor was without suspended commander Sergio Busquets however gave Pedri his initial beginning since he was harmed in February.
Rayo broke the halt almost immediately when Alvaro Garcia penetrated home across Marc-Andre ter Stegen and into the base corner.
Robert Lewandowski ought to have balanced for Barcelona however Rayo goalkeeper Took Dimitrievski denied the forward one-on-one, and afterward the Shaft had an objective precluded for offside.
Rayo multiplied their lead after the crush when left-spirit Fran Garcia squeezed Frenkie de Jong, gathered the ball and drove on to score.
“We realize that it was a significant day for us, they say the goliath executioners are back,” said Fran Garcia.
“The air can’t be portrayed … we need to give it back in the most effective way conceivable.”
Lewandowski pulled one back for Barcelona after Franck Kessie’s shot was impeded, finishing a run of four games without an objective for the division’s top scorer.
Rayo hung on for just their second win in their last 11 association matches – – and third in four games against Barca for mentor Andoni Iraola.
- Atletico festivities –
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, on the club’s 120th commemoration, put on an engaging showcase in their success over Mallorca with Antoine Griezmann at the core of it by and by.
The forward created two helps as Rodrigo de Paul, Alvaro Morata and Yannick Carrasco struck for the hosts at the Metropolitano.
After Genuine Madrid were pounded 4-2 by Girona on Tuesday, Atletico promoted to bring in their neighbors.
Atletico, wearing extraordinary blue and white packs at home to check the event of their commemoration – – the plan depended on their very first shirt – – had their festivals upset from the beginning.
“It’s unthinkable not to stall out in with this air,” Simeone told DAZN.
“After such a terrible beginning (to the season), to financially recover fills me with satisfaction, since it was difficult.”
Matija Nastasic put Mallorca ahead contrary to the rules following 20 minutes, heading in from a c
De Paul balanced in first-half stoppage time after Predrag Rajkovic parried from Griezmann, however the Frenchman laid the bounce back across for his colleague to wrap up.
Atletico started to lead the pack from the get-go in the second time frame when Nahuel Molina crossed for Morata to head home effectively.
Carrasco got the third following 77 minutes on the break after Griezmann sent him through on objective with a fine hurled pass and he adjusted Rajkovic prior to wrapping up.
Almeria scaled to fifteenth with a 2-1 win at 10-man Getafe, which left the hosts seventeenth, one point over the last three, which they could sink into relying upon different outcomes Thursday
Celta Vigo procured a late win over lower part of-the-table Elche because of safeguard Joseph Aidoo’s jumping header.
