Barcelona Held, Real Madrid Stunned in Late La Liga Drama

La Liga delivered another weekend of surprises as Barcelona were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against a spirited Real Betis, while Real Madrid suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia in the final moments of their match. Despite dropping points, Barcelona managed to extend their lead over Real Madrid to four points at the top of the table. Both teams now turn their attention to midweek Champions League quarter-final ties — with Real Madrid heading to Arsenal and Barcelona set to face Borussia Dortmund....CONTINUE READING>>>

Barcelona made a strong start in their clash with Betis, taking the lead through Gavi in just the seventh minute. However, their early momentum was quickly halted when Natan Souza equalized with a powerful header from a corner in the 16th minute. The Catalans pushed hard for a winner, dominating possession and generating multiple chances, but were continually denied by Betis goalkeeper Adrian and some last-ditch defending. Gavi later admitted the result left a “bitter taste” due to their failure to capitalize on several scoring opportunities.

Over in Madrid, things unraveled for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in dramatic fashion. Real Madrid had the chance to go ahead early via a penalty, but Vinicius Junior saw his effort saved. Valencia struck first not long after, with Mouctar Diakhaby heading home from a set piece. Madrid equalized in the second half through Vinicius Junior, marking his 104th goal for the club — a milestone that puts him level with Brazilian great Ronaldo.

Despite constant pressure and a flurry of chances — particularly from Kylian Mbappé — Los Blancos couldn’t find a breakthrough. Their wastefulness proved costly as Hugo Duro netted a stunning late winner for Valencia on a swift counter-attack in stoppage time. Speaking after the match, Ancelotti admitted, “We lacked sharpness in front of goal,” while also noting how increasingly competitive La Liga has become.

These results add even more intrigue to the title race as the campaign nears its climax. With the Champions League and the Copa del Rey final — a showdown between Barça and Madrid — on the horizon, both sides face a defining stretch in their seasons. The weekend served as a reminder that even the biggest clubs can be undone by small margins in such a fiercely contested league.