Madrid, Jan 19 (IANS) FC Barcelona lost 2-1 away to Real Sociedad on Sunday, allowing Real Madrid to close to within a point of the La Liga leader after a turbulent weekend that also raised fresh questions about the use of VAR.
Real Madrid are now on 48 points from 20 matches, with 15 wins, three draws, and two losses. Barcelona have 16 wins, one draw, and three defeats for 49 points.
Villarreal are third with 41 points from 19 matches, the same as Atletico Madrid but from 20 matches. Espanyol are in fifth position with 34 points from 20 games, reports Xinhua.
Here are four things we learned from Spain’s matchday 20.
1. Luck deserts Barcelona in San Sebastian
Real Sociedad continued their revival under Pellegrino Matarazzo with a spirited win over Barcelona in a rain-soaked and chaotic encounter.
Barcelona have three goals and a penalty ruled out after VAR interventions, with several decisions marginal enough to infuriate players and staff. Referee Gil Manzano was the focus of repeated protests.
Hansi Flick’s side also struck the woodwork five times in the second half while chasing an equaliser. On another day, Barcelona might have won comfortably, and despite the defeat, there is little sense of a wider crisis.
2. Bernabeu fans pass judgment
Real Madrid’s 2-0 home win over Levante on Saturday did little to ease tension at the Santiago Bernabeu, where supporters made their dissatisfaction unmistakably clear.
Real Madrid players were booed during warm-ups, at kickoff, and again at halftime, with the score still 0-0. The reaction appeared to reflect frustration over recent performances and the recent dismissal of coach Xabi Alonso.
Vinicius Junior received especially hostile treatment, jeered with nearly every touch. The Brazilian winger had a strained relationship with Alonso, who demanded greater defensive effort, and the atmosphere could yet complicate talks over a contract extension, with his current deal running until June 2027.
3. VAR under fire again
VAR endured another bruising weekend in La Liga. In addition to the controversy in San Sebastian, Girona was awarded two debatable penalties in a 2-0 win at Espanyol. Mallorca also benefited from two spot kicks in a 3-2 home victory over Athletic Club of Bilbao, both converted by Vedat Muriqi.
The first controversial penalty was awarded after the ball rebounded off an Athletic defender onto Dani Vivian’s arm. The second came when the ball struck Yuri’s outstretched arm as he was being pulled back by Muriqi.
4. Relegation scrap widens dramatically
Mallorca’s controversial win and Valencia’s 1-0 victory away to Getafe tightened an already congested relegation battle.
Only five points now separate Alaves in 18th place, the final relegation spot, from Real Sociedad in eighth. Aside from Sociedad, no team in that pack has managed sustained consistency.
With so many sides locked together, even a short winning run could prove decisive, while prolonged hesitation may carry severe consequences.
–IANS
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