Atletico Madrid claimed the top spot of La Liga after narrowly defeating Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on Saturday, March 2, 2025. The victory came on the heels of Real Madrid's setback against Real Betis, who took the opportunity to win 2-1 and effectively dashed Madrid's title ambitions. Atletico, under the management of Diego Simeone, made the most of their chances at the Metropolitano Stadium, where Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock with his goal just before the 70-minute mark.
The match began with Atletico Madrid dominating possession but struggling to convert their initial opportunities. Sorloth, who had difficulty finding the net, was replaced by Alvarez, whose entry marked a turning point for the hosts. With just over twenty minutes remaining, he capitalized on a brilliant through ball from Marcos Llorente and finished decisively past the Bilbao goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, Real Madrid's away woes continued. After initially taking the lead through Brahim Diaz, assisted by Ferland Mendy and Kylian Mbappe, the Madrid team faltered. Just past the half-hour mark, Isco's corner kick found Johnny Cardoso, who equalized with his header, shifting the momentum. Moments later, Isco, against his former club, converted the penalty after Jesus Rodriguez was fouled, securing the win for Real Betis.
The results caused significant shifts within the league standings. Atletico Madrid moved up to first place, but could be replaced by either Barcelona or Real Sociedad depending on the outcome of their match on Sunday, March 3. Having played out an exhilarating 4-4 draw with Barcelona earlier this week, Atletico's recent form has kept them strongly competitive, but their consistency will be tested as they face rivals Real Madrid next week.
Real Madrid's woes on the road were particularly pronounced, with their head coach Carlo Ancelotti feeling the pressure. Having lost two out of their last three away matches, the team has struggled defensively, conceding more penalties than ever before this season and allowing 18 shots against Betis, the highest record for them this year. Ancelotti stated, "We have to improve our away form if we want to challenge for the title. The pressure is on us, and we need to respond quickly."
There’s no doubt the La Liga title race is heating up, with several more matches to play, and the intensity of competition showing no signs of waning. The results from this weekend's games set the stage for what is sure to be another thrilling week as each team aims for their best position leading up to the end of the season.
With Atletico Madrid now leading the pack, fans of the team will be watching closely to see if they can maintain their momentum, especially with titanic clashes looming on their calendar.