Real Madrid and Barcelona stay neck and neck at the top of LaLiga
Marcelo scored and we witnessed an almost title-winning celebration in Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Valenicia. There was an outpouring of joy that only occurs upon achieving a major objective. When the game finished every Madrid players went straight to congratulate the Brazilian, grateful for his strike, which got them all out of a tight spot. Because if the match had finished as a draw, Madrid would have squandered what they have in the bank and would have needed to win everything, with no margin for error. As it is, they still have something up their sleeve - the game in hand in Vigo. From here to the end of LaLiga Madrid can still relinquish a draw, but that's all, if Barcelona win all their games. And they are on the case, as we saw later on yesterday in Cornellà against Espanyol.
The Bernabéu irked by the Real Madrid A-Team
And if the match at the Bernabéu had finished in a draw, we would have seen a veritable storm. The idea is taking hold that Madrid's B-Team make more effort than the A-Team, and they play just as well. Yesterday's game didn't help the A-players, who produced a passionless, functional performance, with too few runs off the ball and with mistakes at the back. The public took note with young and old alike missing what we'd seen at Riazor (2-6 for Real Madrid). So when Parejo, with a sensational strike into the corner, levelled the match with not long to go, Zidane was left in a difficult position. But it didn't last long. Marcelo produced his golazo and sorted everything out.
Parejo gifts Barcelona the opening they need
Things were looking tough for Barcelona in Cornellà, but everything changed after a passback from Jurado, who sent the ball back to his keeper with a risky ball from the outside of his boot. It ended up being perfect for Luis Suárez to run onto and he showed no mercy. The traditionalists say the first goal is worth three. Well of those three one should be for Luis Suárez and two for Jurado. From that point on the match was done and dusted. Barça were far more solid and, with Messi once again pulling the strings, they pushed the scoreboard on to an emphatic 3-0. The race for LaLiga continues. Barcelona are milimetres ahead, but Madrid have one game more.
