Real Madrid seemed to leave the League on a platter to Barça after giving up a draw in the Madrid derby against Atlético del Bernabeu on Saturday, but in the end that point has served the whites to get closer to a Blaugrana team that was defeated in their visit Almería with a single goal from El-Bilal in the first half.
Of the possible 10-point advantage if they had won in the Power Horse, Xavi Hernández's team now has a seven-point lead, one less than it had before the start of matchday 23 of the championship. With 15 games to go, the classic on March 19 at the Camp Nou seems decisive for the aspirations of both teams.
Carlo Ancelotti's pupils saved a draw (1-1) against the colchoneros with a goal from Álvaro Rodríguez in the 85th minute. The game was marked by the controversial expulsion of Ángel Correa in the 70th minute for an elbow to Antonio Rüdiger who was protested by the rojiblancos players, by their coach, Diego Simeone, and even by their CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín.
For its part, Barça completed a particularly gray game in Almería, the "worst of the season" according to Xavi Hernández. The blaugrana barely created any danger in the first half and in the second they increased the pace but were stubborn with constant crosses into the rival area that almost never bothered goalkeeper Fernando.
Real Sociedad, third in the table, also lost 1-0 on their visit to Mestalla. Valencia broke the losing streak although it continues to decline. Valladolid, who fell clearly against Celta (3-0), has been the only team in the fight for permanence that has lost this day. Cádiz, Almería, Valencia, Celta and Espanyol have added three points in their respective games.
Regarding the European zone, Atlético closes the positions of the Champions League and Betis reinforces fifth place thanks to its victory in Elche (2-3) and the defeat of Rayo Vallecano in Nuevo Mirandilla (1-0) . Those from Iraola maintain sixth place, that of the Conference League, due to Girona's great victory at Athletic's ground (2-3), which is seventh with two points less than the Madrid team.
Consult all the results of the Santander League.
