La Liga, Week 24: Real Madrid And Barcelona Both Win Ugly

Note: We reserve this right to hand this award out another 10 times this year, but seriously this is awesome.

You see, there was the turn, what? And then the kick, huh? With the back of the, ummmm? Yes, Ronnie, you win.

The first half ended in fairly sour fashion when Fabregas, apparently taking offence to an earlier challenge, wiped out Francisco Jaunfran as the right back was shielding the ball near the corner flag. It was an appalling tackle, coming in from behind against a helpless standing opponent, and Fabregas probably should have walked for it. Instead, he saw yellow, and life went on.

However, the visitors were threatening plenty themselves. They were disappointed to have a second goal disallowed for handball, this time by Alexis Sanchez (he also received a booking for his troubles), but eventually they’d pull ahead again, with Lionel Messi lashing home a free kick while Atletico were still setting up their wall. It was a peach of a strike, straight into the top corner from a tight angle and Courtois would have been hard pressed to save it had he been in position, which, of course, he wasn’t.

Even after Ronaldo’s goal, the hosts were in a fairly promising position, but some last-ditch defending, a red card to Michu* and more Rayo wasted chances meant that the leaders managed to escape with all three points.

*It was a pretty normal challenge on Sami Khedira. Not entirely sure why it was worthy of a straight red.

Substitutes from: Sergio Asenjo, Mario Suarez, Paulo Assuncao, Silvio Pereira, Eduardo Salvio, Luis Perea, Alvaro Dominguez.

For more on the two teams, head over to Villarreal USA and The Offside Athletic Bilbao.

Game Date/Time: Sunday, Feb. 26, 10:00 a.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. local

Venue: Estadio del Rayo Vallecano, Madrid, Spain

If they had to play Athletic at San Mames right now, they probably wouldn’t have a prayer. But they have lost only once this season at El Madrigal. Between that and the fact that Bilbao are coming off of a hard-fought Europa League match against Lokomotiv Moscow on Thursday, Marcelo Bielsa probably won’t be too upset with a draw.

Athletic also have some injury and suspension issues to deal with. Ander Herrera and Iker Muniain are suspended, while Fernando Amorebieta might not be fit to start.

Last week, Lionel Messi scored four goals in Barcelona’s brutal 5-1 decimation of Valencia. But that was at the Camp Nou, where Barcelona, and Messi in particular, have been nearly flawless; this week, they face a determined, and reinvigorated Atlético Madrid (yes, you read me right) side at the Estadio Vicente Calderón in Madrid. No, that’s not a joke: since Diego “El Cholo” Simeone took the reigns at Madrid’s second club, Atleti have been nearly flawless in Europe, though they’ve looked relatively pedestrian in la Liga (two draws against mediocre sides in their last two matches). They’re making a very real push in the Europa League, with Radamel Falcao supplying the scoring; now, they have to match their new-found hope against Barcelona’s intimidating passing attack.

This is must-watch TV, especially when we consider Barcelona’s away form: while Messi has managed 23 goals and six assists in twelve home matches (those are alien numbers, out of this world stats) at home, he has only scored four goals with three assists in ten away games. If Messi scores at the Calderón, expect a blowout of epic proportions; if not, well, there’s always the sequel to Madrid-based daily AS’s critically acclaimed story “10 POINTS!!!,” “13 POINTS!!!” hovering around the bend.