Undisputed LaLiga table toppers Atlético Madrid moved closer to the LaLiga title after opening up a 4 points gap over RealMadrid with an impressive 2-0 victory over Sevilla last night. Atléti who started brightly took the lead in the 17th minute via the boots of Argentine Angel Correa. Correa got a swift pass from Kieran Trippier to fire a shot which bounced off into the near post. Trippier returned to the team since December after his betting scandal hearing was put on hold by FIFA.
Substitute Sául Niguez sealed the victory with a delicious effort from his favourite left foot into the bottom edge of the corner in the 76th minute for his first goal of the season.
Saul was substituted in for Thomas Lemar in the 66th minute to produce the winner for Simeone.
Despite producing a whooping 13 shots at Atléti’s goal, only two of Sevilla’s shots worked Jan Oblak.
The clean sheet against Sevilla increased Oblak’s tally to an impressive 11 out of 16 Laliga santander games.
The chances of Diego Simeone Atléti moving closer to his second Laliga title remains extremely high considering they still have two pending games which could give them a potential 10 points lead over Zidane’s RealMadrid. His team has been in beast mode since the season started destroying every team that came their way including favourites Barçelona. They don’t only have the best defence in the league(they have conceded only 6 goals in 18games), they are scoring plenty of goals. Simeone only defeat in the league came against Zidane who he has always struggled to play.
Zidane on the other hand have struggled in front of goal in his last three games. He garnered 5 points out of 9 scoring a mere 3 goals. He was handed an opportunity to jump briefly to the top of the league on Saturday night against Osasuna. Madrid flopped that chance, producing an uninspiring game on a snowing night. They failed to create clear cut chances from open play despite Eddn Hazard returning to the squad after recovering from an injury.
Ronald Koeman’s Barçelona have been the most impressive team in LaLiga since the start of the new year. They have picked up a massive 9 away points out of 9 scoring a stunning 8 goals inspired by the brilliant Lionel Messi who got a brace against Granada on Saturday. This is Messi best start to the new year in recent times.
Barca has waken up from the dead and are just 3 points behind RealMadrid. Their start to the season was the worst in a decade but it seems things have turned around for good.
4th place Villarreal were the biggest winners of Matchday 18 with an unexpected 0-4 away win at Celta Vigo. Goals from Gerard Moreno, Moi Gomez, Parejo and Nino sealed Unai Emerey 8th win of the season. Catch up on the highlights below
Lionel Messi’s second brace of the year has taken his goal tally to 11. Gerard Moreno is second on the list with 10 goals.
