Barca, Atletico fall 1 win shy of mark
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Barcelona and Atletico Madrid dropped their first points of the season on Saturday, missing the chance to equal the record for the best-ever La Liga start.
Champion Barcelona, which visits AC Milan in the Champions League tomorrow, was held 0-0 at Osasuna. It was the first time it failed to score in a domestic league game in 65 matches since a 0-0 draw at Villarreal in January 2012.
Atletico also lost 0-1 at Espanyol as Real Madrid’s record nine straight wins to kick off the 1968-69 campaign remained intact.
Third-placed Real won 2-0 at home to Malaga, Carlo Ancelotti’s side closing within three points of leader Barcelona ahead of next week’s ‘Clasico’ at the Nou Camp and two points shy of Atletico.
Real won thanks to a goal from Angel Di Maria and a stoppage-time Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, won by world record signing Gareth Bale who was a late substitute.
Barcelona was unable to breach a well-drilled Osasuna defense in Pamplona and Atletico was thwarted by an Espanyol side which has made a strong start to the season under Mexican coach Javier Aguirre.
The only goal of the game at Espanyol’s Cornella-El Prat Stadium in Barcelona came in the 54th minute when the ball deflected into the net off the outstretched leg of Atletico ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Argentine Lionel Messi, who had not played since the end of last month due to a thigh strain, came off the bench for the final 25 minutes of the game but not even the World Player of the Year could conjure a goal for Barcelona.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” said captain Carles Puyol after making his first appearance in almost eight months following knee surgery.
“It’s always difficult playing at this stadium,” the 35-year-old Spain defender told Canal Plus.
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