MADRID: Real Madrid’s early-season woes deepened when they lost 2-1 at home to La Liga champions Atletico Madrid on Saturday, while substitute Neymar struck twice in Barcelona’s 2-0 win against visiting Athletic Bilbao.
In their last league outing Real let slip a two-goal lead and lost 4-2 at Real Sociedad at the end of August and it was another disappointing display from the European champions, who have just spent heavily to bolster their star-studded squad.
Tiago beat Karim Benzema to the ball at a corner to head Atletico in front in the 10th minute before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled for the hosts with a 29th-minute spot kick after being brought down by Guilherme Siqueira.
Real dominated for long periods without threatening a typically-dogged Atletico side and paid dearly for failing to press home their advantage when substitute Arda Turan swept the ball low past Iker Casillas with about 15 minutes left.
Atletico’s latest victory over their crosstown rivals suggests they are genuine contenders for silverware again this season despite losing top scorer Diego Costa to Chelsea.
Atletico lost 4-1 to Real in last term’s Champions League final but gained a measure of revenge by beating their local rivals 2-1 on aggregate in the season-opening Spanish Super Cup. Neymar came off the bench for Barca in the earlier kickoff and produced two exquisite finishes from brilliant Lionel Messi assists to secure a 2-0 win at home to Bilbao and maintain their perfect start to the campaign. Barca were much the superior side at a sun-drenched Nou Camp but were unable to make a breakthrough until Neymar ran clear on to Messi’s threaded pass and dinked the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz for a 79th-minute lead. (Reuters)
Five minutes later, Messi made one of his scintillating runs down the right and clipped the ball across to the unmarked Neymar, who had time to steady himself before sidefooting clinically into the bottom corner.
The Brazil captain is coming back from an ankle injury and new Barca coach Luis Enrique held him back until the 63rd minute, when he replaced teenage Spain forward Munir el Haddadi.
Barca, seeking to improve on last season’s second place finish to Atletico, were the only team to win their opening two games and top the table with a perfect nine points and no goals conceded. (Reuters)
