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MADRID – Atletico Madrid won early Sunday and then watched a humbling defeat for Barcelona, and yet another disappointing draw by Real Madrid, to lead the Spanish league for the first time this season.
Atletico dominated in a 2-0 win at Valencia, while Madrid drew 1-1 at home with Eibar for its fourth-consecutive draw, and Barcelona conceded three goals in 11 minutes in the first half in a 4-3 loss at Celta Vigo. The crucial fourth goal was an embarrassing mistake by goalkeeper Marc-Andre terStegen.
The results left Diego Simeone’s team in the lead with 15 points from seven matches. Madrid also has 15 points, but an inferior goal difference.
Barcelona, still without the injured Lionel Messi, stayed on 13 points after its second league loss. It is one point behind third-placed Sevilla, which defeated Alaves 2-1 on Saturday.
“There is still a lot of league left and it’s all tight at the top,” Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said. “All teams are losing points. It says a lot about the level of this league.”
Two penalty saves by Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves were not enough to stop Atletico Madrid.
Antoine Griezmann scored in the 63rd minute and Kevin Gameiro in injury time to give Atletico the win at Valencia despite Alves’ saves in each half.
Alves stopped Griezmann’s penalty in the 44th, but the France forward was able to open the scoring with a left-footed shot from inside the area early in the second half.
Griezmann had already missed from the spot in the team’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munichin the Champions League on Wednesday. He also missed in the Champions League final last season, when Atletico lost to Real Madrid.
The Brazilian goalkeeper also saved Gabi Fernandez’s penalty in the 69th, but Gameiro sealed victory for the visitors in injury time.
“The two penalties mean nothing to me,” Alves said. “I wanted to win the match.” (AP)
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