Barcelona and Atletico Madrid faced setbacks in their pursuit of the Spanish league title. Barcelona’s 1-1 draw against Valencia marks their third consecutive game without a win, reflecting struggles to regain the form that secured them the domestic title last season under Xavi Hernandez’s leadership.
Atletico faced a tougher defeat, losing 2-0 against Athletic Bilbao, who strengthened their position near the top-four spots with a convincing win.
The stalemate for Barcelona leaves surprise leader Girona six points ahead of third-placed Barcelona before Girona’s match against Alaves on Monday. Real Madrid, positioned four points clear of Barcelona, is set to host Villarreal on Sunday. Despite their loss, Atletico is just one point behind Barcelona with an extra game to play.
Barcelona’s Joao Felix put his team ahead in the 55th minute, capitalizing on a precise pass from Frenkie de Jong to score. However, Barcelona missed opportunities to extend their lead before Valencia’s Hugo Guillamon leveled the score in the 70th minute with a strike from the edge of the box.
Coach Xavi Hernandez labeled the match as “a final” following last weekend’s loss to Girona and a midweek defeat in the Champions League against Antwerp, despite already qualifying for the knockout rounds.
Barcelona midfielder Pedri González acknowledged their recent struggles, stating, “It is clear that we are not in a good moment. That happens over the course of a season but we need to pull out of this now.”