The race for this season’s Spanish La Liga is getting more interesting as Real Madrid temporarily returned to the top of the league table after recording a 2-1 win over FC Barcelona on Saturday, April 10, 2021.
The Spanish La Liga giants will remain at the top of the league table pending the outcome of the league match involving Atletico Madrid and Real Betis scheduled to take place today, at 20:00.
If Atletico Madrid who are currently second on the league table with 66 points in 29 games, win the game against Betis, they will return to the top of the league table while Madrid will take the second spot with 66 points in 30 games.
No matter what happens in the game involving Atletico Madrid and Betis, FC Barcelona will remain 3rd with 65 points in 30 games. If FC Barcelona had won the El-Clasico on Saturday, the major fight for the title would have been between them and Atletico Madrid.
In the El-Clasico match played at Real Madrid’s Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Karim Benzema gave the host an early lead in the 13th minute. Madrid made it 2-0 in the 28th minute, thanks to Toni Kroos’ strike.
Real Madrid ended the first half of the Clasico and returned to defend the 2-0 lead in the second half which did not last throughout full time. Barcelona got one goal back in the 60th minute, thanks to Oscar Mingueza.
After that, both teams could not do much as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi continued with his poor form in the El-Clasico. Recall that since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018, Messi has not scored nor provided an assist in an El-Clasico.
Despite Messi’s poor form in El-Clasico in recent years, Barcelona were expected to win their arc-rivals because Barca were enjoying a 19-game unbeaten run in La Liga before the game.
After the league game which made Real Madrid the league leaders with superior goals difference, the coach of Madrid, Zinedine Zidane stressed that the victory has not changed “anything” in the title race, adding that there is “still a long way to go”.
“We have to rest after today”, Zidane said. “It’s been two grueling games. Now we have to rest.
“I don’t know how we’re going to finish the season. Physically, we’re at our limit…
“I’m happy for the players. We made lots of changes today. Mariano, [Alvaro] Odriozola, Isco, Marcelo… Everyone is committed. Everyone wants to play.
“That’s what’s good about this team.We’re all together here. I’m the one responsible, but I’m happy for them. We won together.”
👔 Zidane: “Estamos muy contentos por el esfuerzo y por el trabajo.”#ElClásico | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/4LYvE5at8U
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 10, 2021
