Stalemate between Atletico and Barca hands advantage to Real Madrid
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Barcelona and Atletico Madrid knew victory could fire them towards the La Liga title but yesterday’s 0-0 draw at Camp Nou handed Real Madrid the chance to go top.
Four wins from their last four games will now be enough for Zinedine Zidane’s side to retain their La Liga crown, with a crunch game at home to fourth-place Sevilla up first today.
The first part of a blockbuster weekend in the Spanish title race pitched first against third, but neither could take a decisive step forward despite the best attempts of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez who faced each other for the first time since Suarez departed last summer.
A point each leaves Atletico three points clear of Real Madrid who have a game in hand and also the superior head-to-head over both Atleti and Barcelona.
Barca remain two points off the top but their chances took the biggest hit given that they now need both Atletico and Real Madrid to slip up in the final stretch.
Atletico will be disappointed too, given they spurned a number of chances in during a dominant first half before Ronald Koeman’s side recovered in the second.
Jan Oblak had to deny Messi after a vintage run forward from the Argentine, who then had a well-placed free kick in the last minute, only for Atletico to watch the ball spin inches wide.
Diego Simeone said on Friday Suarez had been “vindicated” since being forced to leave Barcelona, his 19 goals making him top scorer for the team.
Koeman admitted it would be “strange” for everyone, including Messi, who sent a heartfelt open letter to his former teammate, neighbour and best friend last year.
The pair shared a few words in the centre circle before kick-off after the Camp Nou stadium announcer had already beamed that Suarez “will always be welcome”.
But, in truth, the Uruguayan was not at his ruthless best as a handful of openings went unconverted in a contest full of chances but that lacked precision when it mattered most.
Messi was repeatedly knocked over in the opening few minutes before Gerard Pique went through the back of Suarez, both teams scrapping for control.
Atletico slowly took charge, helped by the departure of Sergio Busquets who was replaced by Ilaix Moriba after a clash of heads that meant he had to be taken to hospital for tests.
Without Busquets, Barcelona were rudderless for a while and the Atletico chances came thick and fast.
Marc-andre ter Stegen had to palm away Marcos Llorente’s shot and then stick out a foot to deny Suarez from the angle.