Atletico go on top as Barca fail to score in derby
Atletico Madrid went two points clear at the top of La Liga as a blunder from Levante goalkeeper Diego Marino gave Diego Simeone's side a 1-0 win yesterday.
Fortune was not on Atletico's side for much of the encounter despite the capital city club dominating at the Vicente Calderon.
The hosts struck the crossbar three times, while striker Jackson Martinez squandered a host of opportunities to break the deadlock.
Martinez was withdrawn in the 73rd minute and it was his replacement Thomas who made the crucial impact nine minutes from time.
The 22-year-old's tame effort somehow slipped under the arm of Marino to wrap up all three points and send Atletico first as they bid to regain the title they lost to Barca last season.
It did not take long for Simeone's men to demonstrate their superiority as they quickly began to dictate terms, Martinez forcing a smart save from Marino in the sixth minute.
Antoine Griezmann then curled a free-kick over the bar from the edge of the area before Atletico had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Clos Gomez.
Atletico were aggrieved not to have been awarded a spot-kick following Ivan Lopez's sliding challenge on Angel Correa and Levante continued to live dangerously - only the crossbar preventing Stefan Savic from opening the scoring with a nearpost header from a corner.
For all of Atletico's dominance they were fortunate not to fall behind when Levante captain Verza powered narrowly wide on the half-hour mark.
Martinez saw an effort deflected off target six minutes later as Levante survived the almost constant stream of pressure to cling on until half-time.
The Colombia forward glanced a header wide seven minutes after the restart and was involved again as the woodwork denied Atletico for a second time.
Former Porto star Martinez chested the ball down for Koke, whose fierce drive cannoned off the underside of the bar.
The profligate Martinez missed the target with a header and Luciano Vietto then hit the top of the bar with a cross-cum-shot from the right wing.
However, Atletico's frustration finally came to an end as Thomas dribbled skilfully into the box, his side-footed shot eluding the grasp of Marino and rolling over the line to give the 2013-14 champions the advantage in the race for the title.
Barcelona drew for a third time in four rounds of the Spanish league after being held to 0-0 at crosstown rival Espanyol yesterday.
Espanyol's defense limited Barcelona to Lionel Messi's free kick that hit the goal frame in the first half, and Luis Suarez's shot which went off the post 10 minutes into the second half.
Espanyol succeeded where 30 consecutive league rivals had failed to hold Barcelona scoreless. The last opponent to do so was Malaga in a 1-0 win over Barcelona on Feb. 21 last season.
Espanyol also ended a run of 11 straight games of at least one goal from a member of Barcelona's strike trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, who combined for 137 goals in 2015.
"They played well and with the intensity we expected," Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. "Espanyol always plays with that level of physicality, and it is always easier to destroy than create. The result was fair given what both teams generated, even though we had our chances."
The slip, which came after draws at Valencia and against Deportivo La Coruna - followed by a victory over Real Betis in the last round - also let Real Madrid stay close. Third-place Madrid trails Barcelona by three points before visiting Valencia today.
Espanyol's pressure succeeded in disarming Barcelona's talented attack for most of the match.
"We have drawn against the best team in the world," said Espanyol coach Constantin Galca, whose team provisionally edged into 11th place after his third match in charge.
"I'm satisfied with our work in defense, but we are still lacking in attack," the former Espanyol player said. "We have to create more scoring chances."
In one of its most subdued halves this season, Barcelona could seriously threaten Pau Lopez's goal only late in the first half when Messi earned a foul and proceeded to curl his free kick off the corner of the goalframe.
Otherwise, the opening stretch was controlled by Espanyol's defense, with tempers momentarily flaring between Alvaro Gonalez and Barcelona's Javier Mascherano as both were booked for shoving.
The tone changed briefly after halftime when Suarez dribbled through the area and laid off for Neymar, whose shot from close range was blocked by defender Victor Alvarez.
Messi was next to fire a shot off a defender, before Hernan Perez created Espanyol's only scoring chance all alone when he dribbled by two Barcelona players before sending his shot just wide of the post.
Suarez squandered a great opportunity when he struck the upright from an angle after dribbling past Lopez.
Espanyol then settled down at the back and gave its fans the chance to celebrate the stalemate against its powerful neighbors like a victory.
Barcelona won't have to wait long to avenge the lost points. The Catalan capital's first-division teams will play again in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday and January 13.
"We didn't play well, but these derbies are played to the limit, and we have taken note for the cup," Barcelona's Andres Iniesta said. "We keep adding up points, we have a game in hand, and there is a long way to go. This isn't a setback."
SPAIN
La Liga
Yesterday Espanyol-Barcelona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-0 At. Madrid-Levante . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-0 Malaga-Celta Vigo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . late Today R. Vallecano-R. Sociedad . . . . . . . . . . . . Real Betis-Eibar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Granada-Sevilla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dep. La Coruna-Villarreal . . . . . . . . . . . . At. Bilbao-Las Palmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Valencia-Real Madrid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tomorrow Sp. Gijon-Getafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Standings
PW Atl. Madrid 18 13 Barcelona 17 12 Real Madrid 17 11 Villarreal 17 10 Celta Vigo 17 9 Deportivo 17 6 Ath Bilbao 17 8 Sevilla 17 7 Eibar 17 6 Valencia 17 5 Espanyol 18 6 Malaga 17 5 Betis 17 5 Getafe 17 4 Real Sociedad 17 4 Las Palmas 17 4 Gijon 16 4 Granada CF 17 3 Rayo 17 4 Levante 18 2 D L F A Pts 2 325 8 41 3 2 40 15 39 3 3 45 16 36 3 4 22 15 33 4 4 28 23 31 9 2 25 16 27 3 6 25 18 27 5 5 23 19 26 6 5 21 19 24 7 5 21 15 22 3 9 16 28 21 5 7 11 14 20 5 7 13 23 20 5 8 18 26 17 4 9 18 25 16 4 9 16 24 16 3 9 15 25 15 5 9 18 31 14 211183914 511123111