19th March 2024
Sport

La Liga round-up: Messi’s late goal secures Barça victory at Atletico Madrid

Lionel Messi scored his 12th goal of the season and sixth in his last five games, securing a superb late winner for Barça in their 1-0 victory against Atletico Madrid on Sunday at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Messi is the favourite to win a record-breaking sixth Ballon d’Or in Paris on Monday.

‘In matches that are close and intense, having Leo is always a big advantage,’ said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde after the game.

Messi’s 86th-minute goal, after a slick one-two with Luis Suarez, keeps Barça level on points with Real Madrid at the top of the table, after Real won 2-1 away to Alaves on Saturday.

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‘It’s important for the three points but also for the mental side,’ said Valverde. ‘It sends us into the Christmas period with confidence.’

Atletico Madrid are now six points adrift of both Barça and Real Madrid. The two top clubs also have a game in hand which will be played out in the season’s first El Clásico at the Camp Nou on 18 December.

Messi in action
Lionel Messi in action for Barça against Atletico Madrid on 1 December 2019. (Photo courtesy of @FCBarcelona / Twitter)

‘We need points,’ said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. ‘We are not far from them but we are worried. I am happy with the way we are playing but I will not smile at that because that does not bring us points.’

Antoine Griezmann was whistled on his return to his former club, whom he left for 120m euros to join Barcelona in the close season.

Earlier on Sunday, third-placed Sevilla stayed just one point behind Real Madrid and Barça with a 1-0 victory over Leganes.

Julen Lopetegui‘s side extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches.

La Liga results from Matchday 15 (of 38) played between 29 November – 1 December

Played Friday 29 November

Celta Vigo 0  Valladolid 0

Played Saturday 30 November

Alaves 1  Real Madrid 2

Real Sociedad 4  Eibar 1

Mallorca 1  Real Betis 2

Valencia 2  Villarreal 1

Played Sunday 2 December

Sevilla 1  Leganes 0

Athletic Bilbao 2  Granada 0

Espanyol 2  Osasuna 4

Getafe 4  Levante 0

Atletico Madrid 0  Barcelona 2

La Liga Table – Monday 2 December 2019

(Played, Won, Drawn, Lost, Goals For/Against, Points)

Barcelona         14  10   1   3   36  16  31

Real Madrid     14   9   4   1   30  11  31

Sevilla               15  9   3   3   19  14  30

Real Sociedad   15  8   2   5  26  18  26

Athletic Bilbao   15   7   5   3  17   9   26

Atletico Madrid  15  6   7   2   16  10  25

Getafe               15   6   6   3   23  16  24

Valencia           15   6    5    4   22  21  23

Osasuna           15   5   7    3   21  17  22

Granada            15   6   3   6   20  20  21

Levante             15   6   2   7   18  21  20

Real Betis        15   5    4   6   19  25  19

Villarreal          15   5   3    7   28  24  18

Alaves              15   5    3   7   17  20  18

Valladolid        15   4    6   5   14  18  18

Eibar                 15   4    3   8   15  27  15

Mallorca          15   4   2    9   14   23  14

Celta Vigo       15   3   4    8   10   20  13

Espanyol         15    2   3   10    10   28    9

Leganes          15    1   3   11   8   25    6

 

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (13 & 14): Real Madrid and Barça both fight back to stay on top

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (11 & 12): as Levante stun Barça, others fail to take advantage to go top

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (10): Granada go top, for the first time in 46 years

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (9): Barça now top after Real Madrid lose to Mallorca

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (8): Barça and Real Madrid now both on form

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (6 & 7): Sevilla stop Real Sociedad from going top

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (5): Karim Benzema puts Real Madrid level on points at top of La Liga

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (4): Barça’s 16 year old Ansu Fati continues to more than impress

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (3): Gareth Bale scores twice, then sent off

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (2): Griezmann scores Barça double

ALSO READ: La Liga round-up (1): Opening weekend

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