Rival watch: Barcelona now league leaders after Real Madrid stumble in the Madrid derby

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Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

FC Barcelona were already on top of the table in La Liga EA Sports heading into the remaining set of matches of Matchday 6 yet to be played in Spain. However, with a game in hand, arch-rivals Real Madrid had the ability to regain their position on the top of the table if they overcame their latest opposition.

However, the opposition in question was Diego Simeone’s resilient Atletico Madrid side. Thwarting Real Madrid’s perfect record across all competitions thus far, Simeone and his men came prepared to take on Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid in a clash that was set to light up the Metropolitano Stadium.

Yet, it was the team from Madrid with red along with white in their colours that emerged victorious. Atletico Madrid overcame Real Madrid at home and ensured that they took away all three points, leaving their city rivals with absolutely nothing to salvage from the derby that they took part in.

Ending the game with a scoreline of 3-1 in favor of Atletico, both rivals of Barcelona put on display a game of great quality. Both the Madrid-based outfits showcased a great ability to overturn the tempo of the match as well as their capabilities when the team is in sync with one another.

Atleti started the game off strongly and were the much more refined and improved group of players on the field. Courtesy of goals from Alvaro Morata and former Barcelona forward Antonine Griezmann, Simeone’s side took an early 2-0 lead and seemed to be cruising.

However, Real Madrid were not going down without a fight. The next goal that came in the Madrid derby was scored by Los Blancos, with a powerful Toni Kroos strike instilling hope within the white hearts of the Spanish capital, but it was to be short-lived.

As soon as the second half kicked off, it took Atletico Madrid close to a minute to increase their lead back to two. A poor lapse of judgment from Real Madrid defender David Alaba saw Alvaro Morata left unmarked for a free header that gave Atletico their convincing lead once again.

For now, FC Barcelona now reigns supreme after Matchday six and currently sits top of the La Liga table with 16 points to their name, and only a better goal difference separating them from second-placed Girona.

Real Madrid stumbles down to third for now, being the only team within the top three of the Spanish top flight to have lost a game this season.

Raafay Humayun
Raafay Humayun
Raafay Humayun is a life-long fan of FC Barcelona and an avid enjoyer of all things Blaugrana. Having fallen in love with the club for the way they defined football for him, he now spends his time watching games, analyzing the happenings in them, and digesting any and everything related to his beloved Catalan club. He also writes as an author for Barca News Network hoping to deliver the latest updates to his fellow ‘culés’.

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