La Liga: Atletico Madrid Takes Top Spot as Real Madrid Stumbles Against Betis
Atletico Madrid capitalized on Real Madrid’s misstep, moving to the top of La Liga after a 2-1 defeat for the reigning champions against Real Betis on Saturday. Real’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, described the loss as a “big blow” to their title defense, while Atletico secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao to take a crucial lead in the title race.
Real Madrid, missing suspended star Jude Bellingham, started strong at the Benito Villamarin Stadium with Brahim Diaz scoring the opener after just 10 minutes, courtesy of a well-executed team move involving 19 passes. However, Betis quickly regrouped, with Johnny Cardoso equalizing with a powerful header from an Isco corner.
The second half saw Betis take the lead when Isco converted a penalty after Antonio Rudiger fouled Jesus Rodriguez. This penalty marked Isco’s sixth goal across all competitions since his return from injury, showcasing his crucial role in Betis’ resurgence.
“It’s a big blow. We have to react,” Ancelotti said post-match. “We started well, but later we did not have the same level of commitment; the game got out of control against a side that played better than us and deserved to win.”
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid managed to hold their nerve at the Metropolitano Stadium, with a vital win that sees them ahead of both Barcelona and Real Madrid by two points. Substitute Alvarez scored the decisive goal after a clever assist from Marcos Llorente, marking Alvarez’s eighth league goal this season.
Despite Atletico’s lead, Athletic Bilbao fought valiantly, striking the woodwork three times in their quest for an equalizer. “It’s an incredibly important win; we knew it would not be easy,” Alvarez remarked. “We’re in the fight for the title, but we know there’s a long way to go.”
Atletico’s goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, made critical saves to preserve the lead, and the team’s resilience was evident as they faced a relentless Athletic side. “Our changes helped us, Oblak too, and the goddess of fortune with the shots that hit the post and the bar,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
With Barcelona set to play against Real Sociedad on Sunday, the title race in La Liga is heating up, and both Atletico and Real Madrid will be eager to maintain their momentum as the season progresses.
