Barcelona failed to extend their lead at the top of La Liga table on Sunday evening
The Catalans suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat by Leganes at the Nou Camp
LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Mason Mount? Marcus Rashford? Joshua Zirkzee? Who should Manchester United sell to raise funds?
By PA SPORT
Published: 19:43 EST, 15 December 2024 | Updated: 19:43 EST, 15 December 2024
Barcelona stayed top of La Liga despite a shock 1-0 home defeat on Sunday by Leganes, who had not won away all season before Sunday.
Atletico Madrid beat Getafe 1-0 to leapfrog city rival Real Madrid and go second. Both Barcelona and Atletico have 38 points but Barcelona has a better goal difference.
To double down on their misfortunes, 17-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal went down injured for Barcelona.
The winger will undergo scans on what is thought to be an ankle sprain, which could rule him out of their upcoming clash with Atletico.
Playing in the first of five La Liga matches on Sunday, Atletico won their sixth consecutive league game to move a point clear of Real, which could only draw 3-3 with Real Vallecano on Saturday.
The results set up a mouth-watering clash between the top two at Barcelona next Saturday.
Lamine Yamal's reported ankle sprain could rule him out of next week's game against Atletico
Barcelona are level on points with Atletico, who have a game in hand on the league leaders
Relegation strugglers Leganes move four points clear of the drop zone after their shock win
The Madrid side will go into the match with the momentum after recording their 11th straight victory in all competitions on a chilly afternoon at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Visitor Getafe had taken just two points from its seven away games so far this season but it made life difficult for Diego Simeone´s side. It took Atletico until the 70th minute to get the winner from Alexander Sorloth's header.
Barcelona then missed the chance to restore its three-point cushion when it lost to Leganes.
Leganes went ahead with Sergio González's header after four minutes and spent most of the match defending its lead.
Leganes keeper Marko Dmitrovi´c was superb, especially in the first half, and Barcelona´s front players were so ineffectual that coach Hansi Flick withdrew Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo and Yamal in the final quarter.
His changes, however, had little effect and Leganes, promoted from the second tier in May, celebrated a win that lifts it into 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone.
"Taking the lead so early against teams like this is dangerous because they have so much potential," said Leganes defender Jorge Saenz. "We were able to defend together and keep them away from our area. Dmitrovic made three saves that were life-saving for us."
"It´s only three points, but for us they´re like gold. Things were getting tight and this gives us a little breathing room."
BarcelonaLamine Yamal