How the La Liga table looks after Barcelona’s defeat?
Barcelona experienced a surprising turn of events in matchday 17 of LaLiga EA Sports, suffering a home defeat for the first time in history against Leganés (0-1). The early goal by Sergio González in the 4th minute, following a perfectly executed corner kick, set the tone for the match and left the Catalan side with no margin for error in the title race.
Managed by Hansi Flick, who was serving his first match of a suspension, Barcelona failed to break through the solid defensive setup of Leganés, led by an inspired Marko Dmitrovic. The Serbian goalkeeper’s interventions were crucial, thwarting clear chances from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. Even a powerful strike from the Brazilian hit the crossbar, leaving Barcelona with few clear opportunities to mount a comeback.
To make matters worse, young star Lamine Yamal suffered an injury to his right ankle early in the match, which hindered his ability to penetrate the opposing defense. Despite territorial dominance, the Blaugrana lacked clarity in the final third, with one of their clearest opportunities squandered by Jules Koundé.
Atlético Madrid capitalized on their rivals’ slip-up, securing a narrow win against Getafe (1-0), thanks to a precise header from Alexander Sorloth in the 69th minute. The goal came from a well-placed cross by Nahuel Molina, in a play involving two players looking to solidify their place in Diego Simeone’s setup.
While the mattress makers didn’t showcase their best football, they managed to rack up their fifth consecutive victory in LaLiga, reaching 38 points and placing themselves on equal footing with Barcelona. This result boosts their confidence ahead of the crucial clash next Saturday, where they will visit the Barcelona side in the final match of the year.
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Real Madrid, on the other hand, let a valuable opportunity slip away to maintain their lead, drawing 3-3 against Rayo Vallecano in an exhilarating match. The whites, who had been on a good run, now find themselves one point behind the leaders, with 37 points.
Meanwhile, Athletic Club failed to maintain their good form, drawing 1-1 against Alavés in Mendizorroza. Although they took the lead with a goal from Unai Gómez, the lions couldn’t close out the match and allowed a tenacious Alavés, under the debut of coach Eduardo Coudet at home, to equalize.
After a round filled with emotions and unexpected results, the title race is tighter than ever. Barcelona and Atlético lead with 38 points, closely followed by Real Madrid with 37. Athletic, although further behind, consolidates its position in fourth with 33 points.
Next Saturday, Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid will clash in a direct showdown for the top of LaLiga. It will be the last match of 2024, and the outcome could mark a turning point in the championship race.
