La Liga, Round 26: Real Madrid just barely keep Atleti down

Rayo Vallecano shocked Valencia 1-0 to pull even on points with Real Valladolid.

Here’s a recap of all the results from round 26 in Spain.

Almeria fought back two minutes later and pulled a goal back, taking advantage of Barca’s continued inability to properly defend a set piece. This time it was a corner kick as Miguel Corona’s cross was met by Ángel Trujillo, who went right past his marker and headed the ball past Victor Valdés.

Barca finally secured the points in the 83rd minute as Carles Puyol cleaned up a rebound off the crossbar. Messi made a great run and headed a big looping corner kick past Esteban and off the crossbar. The ball came down to Puyol, who was lurking at the near post, and the defender was more than happy to poke it over the line to extend the lead to 3-1.

Real Madrid wasted no time sucking the air out of the stadium, scoring an early goal to take the lead in the third minute. Angel di María’s cross from the right wing found the foot of Karim Benzema, who’d snuck past the defensive line, for a toe poke past Thibault Courtois. Diego Simone was furious, claiming Benzema was offside, but replays showed Atléti fullback Filipe Luis had failed to step up quickly enough and kept the striker onside.

Courtois was tested twice midway through the first half and came up big both times. The first came in the 23rd minute when di María again found Benzema with a ridiculous long pass. The striker’s shot was blocked away by the Atléti goalkeeper for a corner. A minute later Courtois denied Cristiano Ronaldo’s close-range back heel attempt.

Ronaldo’s anticipation and finish were great, but this goal doesn’t happen without Suarez’s mistake. It was a bad one, and very easily avoidable.

Calls have not been going Atletico Madrid’s way in the Madrid Derby. They should have had a pair of penalties, but have been denied on both occasions, and they’ve picked up a few soft reds. Diego Simeone probably wanted to get in the referee’s face himself, but might have been concerned with the message that would send and would like to stick around to make tactical adjustments, so he improvised.

He sicked assistant German Burgos on the referee. The results were glorious.

Given how good Real Madrid have been recently, an Atleti collapse after they conceded just three minutes into the game wouldn’t have been shocking. Instead, they’re very much back in the match and look like they could potentially get all three points to turn the title race into an even three-way battle.

Arda Turan was the Atleti player who took the no-call the worst, and he was booked for his outburst. The hosts continue to trail and need to bounce back quickly from a couple of huge setbacks.

We’re less than a half an hour from kickoff of the final Derbi Madrileño of the season and lineups for both sides are out.

Madrid have made some changes as well in the defense with the experienced Álvaro Arbeloa coming in at right back and Fabio Coentrão taking over at left back. The midfielder and attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo remains unchanged.

Atlético Madrid injuries and suspensions

Out: None