Madrid: FC Barcelona will have to wait until Saturday at the earliest before celebrating this season’s Liga Santander title after second placed Atletico Madrid beat Valencia 3-2 in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Barca’s 2-0 win away to Alaves on Tuesday meant that defeat for Atletico against a rival that is looking to finish fourth and qualify for next season’s Champions League would have made it impossible for anyone to catch them. However, Atletico once again showed they are not a team that gives anything for lost in an entertaining game in a rainy Madrid. Alvaro Morata opened the scoring in the ninth minute, but former Atletico striker Kevin Gameiro equalized nine minutes before halftime. Antoine Griezmann put Atletico back in front shortly after the start of the second half, but Valencia again dug deep and drew level in the 77th minute when Saul Niguez was judged to have committed deliberate handball by the VAR and Dani Parejo slotted home from the penalty spot. The game looked to be heading for a draw, before Angel Correa’s first goal since October gave Atletico three points that mean Barca have to win their home game against Levante in order to seal the title. Wednesday’s other games saw Athletic Club Bilbao ground out a 1-0 win away to Leganes. (PTI)
