Barcelona was unable to capitalize on Real Madrid’s setback, losing to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday and squandering an opportunity to extend its lead in the Spanish league.
Barcelona lost 2-1 at Vallecas Stadium, maintaining its 11-point deficit to Madrid with seven matches remaining. If it had won the day after Madrid’s 4-2 loss at Girona, it could have taken a major step toward securing its first league title since 2019 and advancing to the finals.
Despite Madrid’s concentration on the Champions League semifinal against Manchester City and the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna, Barcelona’s lead remains comfortable.
“They played a fantastic game and deserved to win,” said Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo. “We still have an 11-point lead, which is a good advantage, and we must now win two consecutive home games.”
At Camp Nou Stadium, Barcelona’s next league fixtures are against Real Betis and Osasuna. A victory against Atletico Madrid at home had ended a three-game losing sequence.
“It wasn’t a good game for us,” said Xavi, the coach of Barcelona. “We are disappointed because this was an excellent opportunity for us. It is not yet over.”
It was Rayo’s second victory in three games, keeping them in ninth place. lvaro Garca tallied in the 19th minute, and Fran Garca scored in the 53rd. Robert Lewandowski scored a late goal for Barcelona against Rayo, despite having scored just twice in his previous ten matches.
ATLETICO REBOUNDS
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Atletico responded to its defeat at Barcelona with a convincing 3-1 home victory over Mallorca.
Also, Atletico scored goals from Rodrigo De Paul, lvaro Morata, and Yannick Carrasco to narrow its deficit to second-place Madrid to three points. The second-place finish is crucial because it ensures a position in the lucrative Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The margin between Atletico and Betis, the first team outside of the Champions League spots, increased to 14 points.
To commemorate its 120th anniversary, Atletico Madrid donned a blue-and-white uniform at the Metropolitano Stadium that harkened back to its origins.
OTHER RESULTS
In a crucial match in the battle against relegation, Almeria defeated Getafe 2-1 on the road to move up to 15th place, three points above the relegation zone. Getafe fell to seventeenth place, one point above the relegation zone.
After defeating Elche 1-0 at home, Celta Vigo moved up to the 12th position.
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