Real celebrate draw with Barca like a victory
BARCELONA: Real Madrid celebrated their 1-1 draw at Barcelona on Saturday as if they had snatched victory and the two teams’ contrasting moods at fulltime suggested the result could have huge ramifications for the title race.
Sergio Ramos’s 90th-minute header cancelled out Luis Suarez’s opener for Barca to keep Real six points clear of the champions at the top of La Liga’s standings.
Real marked the result just as they had their away league victory over the Catalans last season, by capturing the atmosphere in the dressing room with a team photo which captain Ramos posted on social media.
“Scoring a goal like that in the Nou Camp almost feels like a victory,” said Luka Modric, who had delivered the free kick from which Ramos scored.
“We feel invincible, with so much quality and so many world class players, if we play as a team and leave everything on the pitch and fight and deliver, it’s very difficult to beat us.”
A point was of little use to Barca, who had drawn their previous two league games, and captain Andres Iniesta did not hide his frustration.
“I’m left with a bad sensation, we were so close to scoring a second goal and they get one with practically their first chance. That’s why it hurts,” he said.
The draw, however, was hugely significant for Real and left them in the driving seat to secure a first title since 2012.
It also moved them to within one game of equalling a club record of 34 matches without defeat in all competitions.
ATLETICO HELD
A fine night for Real was rounded off as Atletico Madrid remain nine points back in fourth after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Espanyol.
Indeed, the Champions League finalists were thankful to goalkeeper Jan Oblak for even a point as he made brilliant saves from Gerard Moreno and Leo Baptistao.
Third-placed Sevilla also slipped to defeat as Granada moved off the bottom with their first win of the season 2-1 at Nuevo Los Carmenes.
LAPADULA SAVES MILAN THE BLUSHES
MILAN:Gianluca Lapadula struck a late winner as AC Milan maintained their early season challenge to champions Juventus with a 2-1 defeat of defiant Crotone on Sunday.
Milan looked to be heading for a share of the spoils against the Serie A newcomers, who had garnered just one win and three draws from their previous 14 games, after Mario Pasalic’s 41st minute strike levelled Diego Falcinelli’s 26th minute opener for the visitors.
Vincenzo Montella’s men dug in during the final, frantic minutes and were rewarded at a corner. A poor clearance saw the ball fall to Lapadula, who turned to beat Alex Cordaz down low to secure the points four minutes from the end.
Milan’s 10th win moved the Rossoneri up to provisional second place three points ahead of Roma and four behind Juventus, who tightened their grip with a 3-1 win over Atalanta on Saturday. Alex Sandro. Daniele Rugani and Mario Mandzukic scored for the Turin side.