{"id":584494,"date":"2021-02-22T00:00:07","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T05:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=584494"},"modified":"2021-02-22T06:30:31","modified_gmt":"2021-02-22T11:30:31","slug":"atletico-madrid-stumble-and-real-madrid-win-as-la-liga-title-race-opens-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/02\/22\/atletico-madrid-stumble-and-real-madrid-win-as-la-liga-title-race-opens-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Atl\u00e9tico Madrid Stumble and Real Madrid Win as La Liga Title Race Opens Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

An important win for Real Madrid<\/a> this coupled with a shocking loss for Atl\u00e9tico Madrid<\/a> has opened up the title race in La Liga.<\/p>\n

Just three points separate the two Madrid sides at the top of the table, albeit Atl\u00e9ti could extend their lead to six if they win their game in hand. A draw for Barcelona<\/a> against surprise-of-the-season C\u00e1diz, means the Catalans are now just eight back of Atl\u00e9tico Madrid too, in third place.<\/p>\n

Just a few weeks ago, Los Rojiblancos<\/em> enjoyed a ten-point lead at the top of the table with two games in hand<\/a>. However, Atl\u00e9ti\u2019s stalwart defence has begun to fail them and the team has won just one of their past four matches, including their first home loss of the campaign on Saturday against Levante.<\/p>\n

La Liga Title Race Wide Open as Real Madrid Close in on City Rivals Atl\u00e9tico<\/h2>\n

After Dream Start, Atl\u00e9tico Madrid Lose Steam<\/h3>\n

After an incredible start to the season, in which they conceded five goals in their first 16 matches, Los Rojiblancos<\/em> have let in ten in their last seven matches and not kept a clean sheet since January 12.<\/p>\n

Compounding their defensive woes, star centre-back Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Gim\u00e9nez has suffered a thigh injury and will miss their Champions League<\/a> clash against Chelsea<\/a>, which will now be played in Bucharest<\/a>. The Uruguayan is also expected to miss next weekend\u2019s match against sixth-place Villareal.<\/p>\n

The injury to Gim\u00e9nez is the latest setback for Diego Simeone, who is also without right-back Kieran Trippier due to suspension, central midfielder H\u00e9ctor Herrera and winger Yannick Carrasco.<\/p>\n

Despite all this, Simeone remains confident<\/a> and said after his side\u2019s 2-0 loss to Levante that the team had earned the right to suffer a few bad results. He also pointed out that Frenchman Thomas Lemar and Portuguese starlet Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix were also getting back into form.<\/p>\n

[pickup_prop id=”16″]<\/p>\n

Atl\u00e9ti will hope that they can bring their sustained stumble to an end before their March 7 match against Real Madrid. Los Blancos<\/i>\u00a0have been in formidable form of late, winning five of their last six matches while conceding just three goals.<\/p>\n

However, Zin\u00e9dine Zidane\u2019s men have their own injury problems. After sustaining an injury in training on February 19, star striker Karim Benzema added his name to the injury list. It is unknown when he will return.<\/p>\n

Benzema joins the list of high-profile stars, including centre-back Sergio Ramos, winger Eden Hazard and right-back Dani Carvajal, who are all expected to miss the clash against Atl\u00e9ti.<\/p>\n

The good news for Real\u00a0is that Uruguayan midfielder Fede Valverde is expected to return soon along with Brazilian left-back Marcelo.<\/p>\n

Real Keep Finding A Way to Win Ahead of Madrid Derby<\/h3>\n

Even with their notable absence of attackers, Real Madrid have continued to find a way to score, something Atl\u00e9ti have not been as good at when talisman Luis Su\u00e1rez<\/a>\u00a0is unable to find the back of the net.<\/p>\n

Su\u00e1rez has scored more than one-third of the team\u2019s league goals but has not done so since the side\u2019s 2-2 draw with Celta de Vigo on February 8.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Saturday\u2019s 1-0 away win against Real Valladolid, Casemiro came through for Real Madrid to score in the second half.<\/p>\n

Immediately after the match, the Brazilian holding midfielder said Los Blancos<\/em>\u00a0have what it takes to come back and win their second league title in a row, which would be the first time the side have done so since 2006\/07 and 2007\/08.<\/p>\n

“It’s not just because Atl\u00e9tico Madrid lost. We believe [we can win] the league,” Casemiro told ESPN reporters<\/a>. “I think there are still 42 points left, that’s a lot of points. We know there’s a lot of league left. We know it’s difficult, but we believe in the league.”<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>