Real Madrid’s run of wins came to an end on Saturday when they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu by city rivals Atletico, allowing Barcelona to extend their lead at the top to six points.
After two successive defeats Barcelona got back on track with a 2-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao to stretch their advantage over Real by two points.
Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan put Atletico Madrid ahead on 38 minutes with his 18th goal of the season, but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar equalized for Real Madrid after 57 minutes. The draw meant Atletico’s derby hoodoo continues as they have not beaten Real since a 3-1 win back in 1999.
Atletico felt hard done and striker Sergio “Kun” Aguero vented his frustration at not being awarded a late penalty, claiming the referee took the easy way out.
“It was a penalty,” Aguero said. “It was the final incident in the game, but you aren’t going to get a penalty in the dying minutes at the Bernabeu. I looked at the clock and there was a minute left and he [the referee] wasn’t going to give it.”
Personnel problems saw Real boss Juande Ramos use French midfielder Lass Diarra as an emergency right back for Sergio Ramos, who was required at center-half. Against Aguero and Forlan — who tore Barcelona to pieces in last weekend’s 4-3 win — it was a big ask.
The two combined to give Atletico the lead with Aguero setting up Forlan to smash the ball past Iker Casillas, but Huntelaar equalized on 57 minutes.
Atletico fall five points behind fourth-placed Villarreal who defeated Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday.
Luis Garcia missed a penalty for struggling Espanyol and Villarreal held on to their slender advantage to close to within two points of Sevilla in third.
The Atletico point was good news for Barcelona, who capitalized with a victory over Athletic Bilbao in a match-up between this season’s two Kings Cup finalists.
Sergi Busquets, 20, scored his first goal for the club, heading home before Lionel Messi converted a penalty to take his season’s tally to 18 goals.
Barcelona were awarded a number of free-kicks and made one count in the 17th minute when Xavi’s fantastic cross was headed in by Busquets.
Just after the hour mark the hosts were awarded a penalty when Andres Iniesta was clipped in the box. Messi converted the spot-kick.
Iniesta hit the post early in the second half and Barca could have won by eight or nine with Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry missing a glut of chances.
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