Madrid: The first Clasico stalemate in 17 years means Barcelona will likely finish 2019 top of La Liga if they beat Alaves on Saturday, despite a distinctly underwhelming opening half of the season.
Barca have lacked purpose and clarity in recent months and three defeats in the league is already more than they endured in the entirety of their title-winning run last term. “Grey, but surviving – Barcelona are still the leader,” read the headline in Madrid daily AS on Thursday.
None of their rivals have been able to take advantage, not even Real Madrid, who were the better team for long spells of a scrappy contest on Wednesday but failed to make it count.
“We deserved a little more but that’s football, we lacked a bit of ruthlessness in the final third,” Zinedine Zidane said on Wednesday night. His team have motored in recent weeks and are unbeaten in 12 matches. It would be a surprise if they did not add another victory at home to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid, who travel to Real Betis on Sunday, will hope to accelerate soon too, possibly with the help of a new striker in January to ease their chronic problems in front of goal. (AFP)
