Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-04 08:14:19
Both Girona and Barcelona missed opportunities to close the gap on Liga leaders Real Madrid over the weekend. Real Madrid had drawn the night before, giving Girona a chance to gain ground, but they lost 1-0 to Mallorca, while Barcelona could only manage a goalless draw with Bilbao.
Girona, who had been surprising title challengers, suffered their third goalless game in five matches as Mallorca scored the only goal of the game after 33 minutes. Despite enjoying more possession, Girona struggled to create clear chances, disappointing coach Michel Sanchez.
Barcelona, on the other hand, failed to impress in their draw with Bilbao, with coach Xavi admitting that his team could have done more. The match also saw injuries to key players Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, adding to Barcelona’s woes.
In contrast, Atletico Madrid strengthened their grip on fourth place with a 2-1 victory over Betis. Atletico took the lead after eight minutes with an own goal from Betis, before Alvaro Morata scored a rebound in the 43rd minute to secure the win.
Elsewhere, Villarreal trounced struggling Granada 5-1, with Alexander Sorloth scoring a hat-trick in the opening game of the day. Real Madrid’s draw with Valencia ended in controversy as Jude Bellingham was sent off after his late goal was disallowed due to the referee blowing the final whistle.
Overall, the weekend’s results saw Real Madrid maintain their lead at the top of the table, with Girona and Barcelona missing opportunities to close the gap. Atletico Madrid’s victory helped them solidify their position in fourth place, while Villarreal’s win propelled them further up the table.
