Barcelona’s La Liga title hopes got another massive boost last night as both top two giants dropped points. A hard-fought Madrid derby ended in a 1-1 draw, and Real Madrid might be in trouble. Los Blancos’ points drop misery was further aggravated when Diego Simeone lauded Barca in the post-match press conference. Let’s break it down.
Simeone’s Praise: Proof That Barcelona Are La Liga’s Top Force
Diego Simeone uttered words of praise for Barcelona after the derby draw and declared the Catalans as the best team in La Liga. The Argentina said:
“Barcelona, I repeat, is the best team, they attack very well. They have great speed in their actions, fantastic footballers,”
Diego is not known for casually praising opponents, especially direct rivals like Barcelona. Even though Diego’s Atleti managed to beat Barcelona back in December, the Argentine acknowledged the Blaugrana’s superiority in the Spanish league.
Simeone’s compliment is proof of Flick’s tremendous impact on Barcelona and the team’s fantastic performances lately. The Catalans have shown blistering speed in attack, technicality in Midfield, and hunger for titles, which is why Barca is the most dangerous side in Spain.
Both Madrid Sides Drop Points: The Draw Hands Barca Another Opportunity
The Madrid derby was a chance for both Madrid-based sides to strengthen their positions in the La Liga rankings. However, after drawing the match last night, both teams favoured Barcelona. While both Madrid clubs may be disappointed with the result, Barca won last night’s match, even though the Catalans did not even play.
If Barcelona beats Sevilla tonight, the points gap will be reduced to only two from the top. The title race has been heating up for quite some time now, and after all the losses a few months back, the momentum is again shifting in favor of the Blaugrana. The question is, will they take full advantage?
Madrid Feel the Pressure as Barca Close In
Los Blancos conceded a penalty last night for the first time this season. Let that sink in. After all the referee controversy the previous week and Gerard Pique’s statements, Real Madrid fans should digest that this was the first call against them in 24 games. This fact should raise eyebrows, especially when compared to Barcelona’s own experiences with officiating this season.
On the other hand, Atletico made no mistake in converting this rare opportunity. Julian Alvarez calmly chipped a panenka past Courtois and gave Atletico the lead. Although Mbappe’s equalizer gave Real Madrid a point back, the pressure on Real Madrid will be astronomical as Barcelona keeps inching closer to them.
Will Barcelona Seize the Moment Tonight?
Barcelona’s fate is now in their own hands, and 16 rounds remain in La Liga this season. The Catalans pounced upon the provided opportunity last week, and now, with this Derby draw, yet another opportunity to close the gap is handed over to them. Barca are set to face Sevilla away from home tonight, and a win will put them only 2 points away from Real Madrid. No one expected this position a few weeks ago.
However, opportunities mean nothing if you do not take them. Barcelona’s brilliance and heavy scoring have impressed us all, but inconsistency still haunts us to an extent. Now is the time to prove that Barcelona is a serious contender, as Raphinha’s optimistic statements suggested yesterday.
If the Catalans keep winning, keep the pressure on and maintain intensity, the La Liga title can be theirs in no time.