Real Madrid slip up at Valencia... and La Liga is alive again!
A huge weekend is looming as Barcelona and Sevilla find themselves back in the title race
La Liga is alive. It's really alive. Real Madrid slipped up at Mestalla and lost three points which had been viewed as a given. Barcelona are still one point behind and on Sunday, even, could move to the top of the table. Everything is possible in a title race which until now has been difficult to read due to the two games in hand Madrid have had. The first has been lost against Valencia. And the same may happen in the other, away to Celta Vigo...
Madrid were knocked out in 10 minutes. They conceded two goals to two players who when the game was due to be played (when Madrid were at the Club World Cup) would not have been at Valencia: Zaza and Orellana. Voro's team signed them both in January and they did the business against Zinedine Zidane's side with early goals on Wednesday. There could have been more, too, but for some good saves from Keylor Navas, the goalkeeper Florentino Perez would like to shift.
Cristiano Ronaldo, as always, gave Madrid a lifeline with a header just before the break. And in the second half, Los Blancos went in search of the equaliser, but rarely troubled Diego Alves' goal. A draw would have been a lesser evil for Madrid, but they could not even save a point. Another nightmare encounter for Zidane's side, although playing well doesn't interest Madridismo and the media which follow them.
So, Barça stay one point back from Madrid, who on Sunday travel to Villarreal, which will be tough. However, the Blaugrana also have a tricky game at the Vicente Calderon against Atletico. It will be, without doubt, a decisive weekend in the La Liga title race. A La Liga title race which is once again alive.
