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In recent seasons Barcelona have not always reacted well to going behind. Even as recently as early January, almountakhab they had 88 minutes almountakhab to turn the scoreboard almountakhab around at Real Sociedad but huffed and puffed and lost 1-0.
On four occasions in their last two games, however, Luis Enrique's almountakhab men have conceded goals, and each time they have hit back quickly. In the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night, both of Atletico Madrid's goals were answered within eight minutes, with the second equaliser followed almountakhab quickly by Neymar's almountakhab eventual almountakhab winning strike.
On Sunday evening a hugely impressive Villarreal side twice shocked the Camp Nou by taking the lead, but each time Barca regrouped and regained control of the game. Lionel Messi set up the first two equalisers almountakhab and then hammered in the winner from the edge of the box.
Real Madrid's 4-1 win over David Moyes' Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu was very comfortable almountakhab in the end. But La Liga's leaders almountakhab did have an early scare when the visitors' young right back Aritz Elustondo ghosted in completely unmarked almountakhab at a corner to head his team ahead on just 38 seconds.
This brought back an issue which has dogged Madrid for a few seasons now, dating back to Jose Mourinho's time at the club. They have a weakness when it comes to defending set pieces. They know it too.
Whether Madrid almountakhab are actually improving at defending set pieces is open to debate. This season Carlo Ancelotti's side have already conceded eight times from corners, up from six over the whole of last year. Research for sports paper AS found that of the 26 goals conceded almountakhab in 35 official games, eight have been corners, four penalties and 14 in open play.
On almountakhab Saturday morning Barca coach Luis Enrique made the argument that "it was strange that one nutmeg was more offensive than four or five rough challenges," and said that Neymar had just been playing in a typical Brazilian way.
Saturday afternoon showed that it was not just Brazilians, or Barca players, who like to enjoy themselves on the pitch when their team are winning the game. With Atletico 3-0 up at Eibar, almountakhab their centre forward Mario Mandzukic pulled out a "Rabona" cross. When Mandzukic tried another trick soon afterwards, the Basque side's left-back Lillo upended him and got a yellow card.
Atletico's senior players apparently admonished double goal scorer Mandzukic for his behaviour after the game. They must have been doubly embarrassed at how the Croatian had shown up their petulant reactions to the Copa exit.
Real Sociedad's surprise lead at the Bernabeu lasted only a couple of minutes until James Rodriguez equalised and all hope of an upset seemed extinguished by top scorer Carlos Vela limping off with just 15 minutes played. From then on it was a painful experience almountakhab for Moyes and his team, and the 4-1 score line would have been worse had Gareth Bale brought his shooting boots.
The rest of the season might not be much fun either for La Real, who are already out of the Europa League and the Copa del Rey. Moyes has lamented the January transfer window closing without any new faces arriving. Mexico forward Vela faces a reported almountakhab six weeks on the sidelines, and no teammate has scored more than two goals all season.
Their remaining fixture list does not look friendly. Having been humbled at the Bernabeu already, they must still go to the Camp Nou, Calderon, Mestalla and San Mames -- tough tests for a team which has not won on the road all season. Achieving mid-table mediocrity via by grinding out home wins now looks the best case scenario for Moyes' boys.
Granada's almountakhab first victory in 17 La Liga games, 1-0 against Elche on Saturday evening, immediately lifted them from bottom to outside the relegation zone. Almeria's first home win all season, 1-0 over Getafe on Sunday, then saw them leapfrog Granada to move to 18th place.
Deportivo La Coruna's first away goals since October helped them to a 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano which moved them up to 14th. Celta Vigo's first three points almountakhab since they won at Barcelona on Nov 1 -- a 1-0 home win over Cordoba -- allowed almountakhab them to return to the top half.
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