FC Barcelona managed to win in the final minutes in Madrid against Atlético (2-1), widening the gap at the top of La Liga over Real Madrid who were defeated by Mallorca on Saturday in the 30th round.
Atlético opened the scoring with Giuliano Simeone (39th minute) before being equalized by Marcus Rashford (42nd minute) and reduced to ten men after the expulsion of Nico Gonzalez before halftime. Shortly after coming on, Robert Lewandowski (87th minute) secured the victory for the league leaders (76 points), now with a seven-point lead over Real Madrid (2nd, 69 points). Barcelona and Atlético will meet again on Wednesday in Catalonia in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals (return leg on April 14).
Real Madrid Slip-Up
Real Madrid was caught off guard in Mallorca on Saturday in La Liga (2-1), despite the return of Kylian Mbappé to the starting lineup. Surprised by a mid-run goal from Spanish midfielder Manu Morlanes just before halftime (42nd minute, 1-0), the Merengues thought they had salvaged a draw with a last-minute header from Brazilian defender Eder Militao (88th minute, 1-1), back after a four-month absence. However, they conceded again in stoppage time to a clear pivot shot from Kosovar forward Vedat Muriqi (90+1st minute, 2-1) beating goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, standing in for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
French striker Kylian Mbappé, starting for the first time since the end of February and his left knee injury, had the best chances of the match but was denied each time by the inspired opposing goalkeeper Leo Roman (23rd, 25th, 55th minutes). “For me, it was easier to see how tough this match was going to be. What’s more complicated is for the players to understand that today, without giving 200%, we wouldn’t be able to win,” reacted Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, stating that this fifth defeat of the season in the league was “on him.”
