Barcelona's title hopes took a hit as they stumbled to a 1-0 loss at home against Leganes, while Atletico Madrid pulled level with the Catalans with a 1-0 victory against Getafe. Barcelona's poor form continued as they lost three of their last six league games, putting their lead at risk. Leganes' early goal from a corner set the tone for the game as Barcelona failed to make a comeback, while Atletico Madrid continue their impressive winning streak.
Barcelona's La Liga Title Hopes Dented by Leganes Loss
Barcelona's pursuit of a third consecutive La Liga title suffered a blow on Sunday after they were stunned 1-0 at home by lowly Leganes. The defeat came just a few days after Barca had been held to a 0-0 draw by Getafe, extending their winless run in the league to three games.
Leganes, who had only won one of their previous 11 league matches, took the lead in the 12th minute when Martin Braithwaite flicked home a corner. Barcelona dominated possession but failed to create any clear-cut chances, with Lionel Messi having a penalty saved in the second half.
The result leaves Barcelona level on points with Atletico Madrid at the top of the table, but Diego Simeone's side have a game in hand. Barcelona's lead over Real Madrid, who are third, is now down to four points.
Atletico Madrid Keep Pace with Barcelona
Atletico Madrid took advantage of Barcelona's slip-up by beating Getafe 1-0 on Saturday. Joao Felix scored the only goal of the game in the 7th minute, heading home from Kieran Trippier's cross.
The victory was Atletico Madrid's fifth in a row in La Liga and kept them in contention for the title. Diego Simeone's side have been in impressive form in recent months and will be confident of challenging Barcelona for the championship.
Barcelona's Poor Form
Barcelona's recent form has been a cause for concern for manager Ernesto Valverde. The Catalans have won just three of their last six league games and have looked vulnerable at the back.
Valverde has been criticized for his tactics and team selection, and there have been calls for him to be replaced. However, the Barcelona board has so far stood by their manager.
Top 5 FAQs about Barcelona's Current and Past Events
Barcelona have been struggling for consistency in La Liga this season, with their defence looking particularly vulnerable. They have also been hit by injuries to key players, such as Ousmane Dembele and Jordi Alba.
Barcelona are still in the race for the La Liga title, but they need to improve their form quickly. Atletico Madrid are now level on points with them at the top of the table and Real Madrid are only four points behind.
Ernesto Valverde is under pressure as Barcelona manager after the team's recent poor form. There have been calls for him to be replaced, but the Barcelona board has so far stood by him.
Barcelona's main title rivals this season are Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid have been in impressive form in recent months and have closed the gap on Barcelona at the top of the table. Real Madrid are also in contention for the title and are level on points with Barcelona in second place.
Barcelona's biggest win in recent years was a 8-2 victory over Huesca in La Liga in 2018/19. Their biggest defeat in recent years was a 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals in 2018/19.
The third day of the third test between India and Australia was interrupted by rain, halting India's batting at a precarious 48 for four. Skipper Pat Cummins took the prized wicket of Rishabh Pant after lunch, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood took three wickets in the morning session. With the series tied at 1-1, the rain interruptions have added to the challenges for both teams in this highly anticipated test match.
With the India-Australia series evenly poised at 1-1, all eyes are on Virat Kohli as he looks to reach a major milestone in the upcoming Gabba Test. The Indian captain is just one century away from joining legends Sunil Gavaskar and Alastair Cook in scoring a century at all five major venues in Australia. He also has a chance to surpass idol Sachin Tendulkar as the player with the most centuries in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Will Kohli break records and lead India to victory?
Mitchell Starc's attacking approach paid off as he took six wickets on the opening day of the pink-ball Test against India, dismissing them for 180 runs. The left-arm pace spearhead's strategy of hitting the stumps worked well, with his first ball dismissing centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal. Starc warned that they would need to stay focused as Jaiswal had bounced back in the second innings of the previous Test.
During the third day of the third Test between Australia and India, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh took an amazing catch to dismiss Indian batsman Shubman Gill. This catch was a major highlight of the day and showcased Marsh's outstanding fielding skills. The video of the catch was only available for viewers in the UK.
In a crucial third test match against England, New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra proved his worth as a cricketer by adapting his usual elegant style to a more disciplined approach. His 44 off 90 balls, along with a 107-run partnership with Kane Williamson, helped stabilize the New Zealand innings at a crucial point. Despite a tendency to flatter to deceive in the series so far, Ravindra's innings proved that his contribution to the team is not determined solely by big scores.
The India vs. Australia 3rd Test match has been delayed due to rain, with an inspection scheduled for 12:20 pm IST. Fans eagerly await the outcome as the teams gear up to continue their fierce battle at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Stay tuned for live updates and scores from this exciting match!
Despite rain reducing play to just 30.2 overs over the first two sessions, Australia's seamers were able to create trouble for India's batters due to their higher release points compared to the Indian quicks. India's shot selection also contributed to their downfall, with three wickets falling to loose drives. Meanwhile, Australia added 40 runs to their overnight score before India took the last three wickets, with Jasprit Bumrah achieving a feat only achieved by Kapil Dev for India - taking 50 Test wickets in Australia. At Tea, India are tottering at 48 for 4, trailing Australia by 397 runs.
After Virat Kohli's dismissal on yet another offside-off delivery, the question of who India's batting coach is has been brought up by former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. The Indian batters, still struggling since the nightmare of Adelaide, faced the heat of Mitchell Starc's fierce pace attack yet again in the ongoing Test series in Australia. Starc's impressive scalps included Indian youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, making it clear that Australia's bowling strategy has been well-researched and executed.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson showed his dominance on the third day of the third Test against England, scoring his 33rd Test century and seventh in Hamilton. Despite the rain disruption and a brief stumble with his partner Rachin Ravindra, Williamson's unbeaten 123 runs took New Zealand's lead to a commanding 478 runs at tea. Meanwhile, England's captain Ben Stokes also left the field early with a hamstring injury adding to their woes in the match. This makes Williamson's achievement even more impressive as he continues to excel in his most productive venue, Seddon Park.