It took some time, however Barcelona and Actual Madrid lastly obtained an opportunity to conflict towards one another, that means all 20 LaLiga groups now have 17 fixtures underneath their belt as they prepare for spherical 18, set to kick off on this Friday, December 20, with a brawl between Eibar and Granada CF. Regardless of having one sport in hand, nevertheless, neither Barcelona nor Actual Madrid managed to make the most of the “additional match” to safe a considerable lead forward of the remainder of the pack, that means the LaLiga title race obtained much more thrilling.
El Classico ends in a stalemate
Whereas formally a re-play of spherical 10 fixture, which was postponed because of ongoing protests in Barcelona, Actual Madrid and Barcelona met afterward Wednesday, after they clashed at Camp Nou in what was considered an necessary fixture to win of their race to the title of 2019/20 LaLiga champions. That being mentioned, the match didn’t see any workforce present sufficient to say a win as they parted methods with one level apiece.
Apart from eight yellow playing cards that had been handed out all through the 90 minutes, neither aspect actually impressed, but it surely’s value noting it was Actual Madrid who seemed a lot stronger all through the match. The primary half noticed Barcelona produce a fairly lacklustre efficiency. Whereas they held onto the ball for 51% of the time, the Blaugrana put up solely three-goal makes an attempt and one shot on aim. Actual Madrid on the opposite aspect put up 12 aim makes an attempt and 4 photographs on aim with 49% ball possession, however with out a lot success, as they failed to attain a aim.
The second half was a lot nearer, however that’s not to say both actually impressed. Barcelona mustered up six-goal makes an attempt and one shot on aim whereas Actual Madrid put up 5 aim makes an attempt and no photographs on aim. Suffice to say it was one of many slowest El Classicos shortly which in whole noticed solely six photographs on aim, 4 of which had been produced by the guests. The match ended with the ultimate rating of 0:0, which was the primary time in 17 years that we obtained to see a goalless LaLiga El Classico. Final time Barcelona and Actual Madrid parted methods with out a single aim was in November 2002.
Sevilla fall flat towards Villarreal
Sevilla obtained off to a flying begin within the 2019/20 season, seeing how they stored themselves among the many prime six groups within the league ever since spherical seven they usually by no means seemed again since. As LaLiga rounds progressed, Sevilla’s consistency earned them a top-four and later a top-three spot, the place they reside forward of spherical 18. Regardless of their praiseworthy run up to now this time period, nevertheless, Sevilla can’t be too proud of what they’ve proven within the final two rounds. In spherical 16, they upset everybody with a draw towards Osasuna (1:1), however that end result was not almost as dangerous as that which Sevilla produced final spherical after they misplaced to Villarreal (1:2) in entrance of their residence crowd.
With regard to that match, Villarreal grabbed an early lead within the thirteenth minute with a aim by Albiol, which was additionally the one aim of the primary half, regardless of Sevilla’s eight-goal makes an attempt and 4 photographs on aim. The hosts stored up the strain within the second half, the place they produced 16 aim makes an attempt, and managed to attain an equalizer in 61st minute. Sadly, it was Villarreal who took their probabilities higher and scored their second aim of the evening in 74th minute, which in the end proved to be an excessive amount of for Sevilla to catch as much as. It was fairly an unlucky loss for Sevilla who didn’t ship on that evening and with that misplaced an excellent probability to get themselves inside two factors of the league leaders.
Atletico Madrid proceed their climb
After a streak of poor outcomes, which noticed Simeone’s males draw towards Granada (1:1), lose towards Barcelona (0:1) and draw towards Villarreal (0:0), Atletico Madrid managed to muster up the energy to defeat Osasuna (2:0) final spherical, which returned them again to the highest a part of the league, the place they sit at fifth place, nonetheless seven factors in need of reaching as much as Actual Madrid and Barcelona.
Following fairly underwhelming ends in the final three rounds, it was time for Atletico Madrid to show their value in entrance of their very own followers they usually did simply that. Simeone’s males entered their bout with Osasuna with all weapons blazing as they took over the management of the match early into the primary half. With 54% ball possession all through the opening 45 minutes, Atleti shot the ball 6/11, but had been a bit unfortunate with their makes an attempt as they failed to attain a aim. Nonetheless, the hosts stored up the strain into the second half and scored their first aim of the match within the 67th minute. Osasuna put up some resistance, however to no avail, as they conceded their second solely eight minutes later when Saul scored his second league aim of the season which roughly sealed the deal and gained Atletico their seventh fixture of the 12 months.
Trying on the match all through, it was a strong effort from Atletico who managed to bounce again after their less-than-impressive draw towards Villarreal. That being mentioned, it stays to be seen whether or not they may handle to maintain up the tempo into spherical 18, contemplating how inconsistent Atletico seemed like this season. Curiously sufficient, since their opening three fixtures of the season, Atletico Madrid by no means gained two league fixtures in a row and whereas we will’t know for certain how they may carry out going ahead, we will be certain Simeone will fancy his probabilities towards Betis, who they may meet with this Sunday, December 22 in spherical 18 of LaLiga.
With Barcelona and Actual Madrid splitting one level apiece of their conflict this week, there have been no modifications on the prime of the league, the place the 2 titans stay tied with 36 factors every. Regardless of their defeat within the final spherical, Sevilla (9-4-4) retained their third place the place they sit with 31 factors, which is one above Getafe (8-6-3) who’re coming into spherical 18 with three successive wins behind them. Atletico Madrid (7-8-2) climbed their solution to fifth place and can look to proceed their climb comes spherical 18. Actual Sociedad dropped right down to sixth after drawing towards Barcelona (2:2) in spherical 17, which was a strong end result for them nonetheless. Only one level in need of breaking into the highest six, we have now Ath Bilbao (7-6-4) and Valencia (7-6-4), which suggests we’re in for an thrilling season, seeing how there may be solely a four-point hole between third-placed Sevilla and eighth-placed Valencia.
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