MADRID, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were thrilled but had to take a point each in the Madrid derby while Barcelona closed the gap at the top of La Liga with an impressive win in Seville. Here are some things we learned in Spain this weekend.
1. Atletico will be happier after the Madrid derby
Atletico Madrid remains a point behind Real Madrid after Saturday's derby in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but despite seeing how Kylian Mbappe equalized Julian Alvarez's penalty which had put his side ahead, Atletico coach Diego Simeone will be the happier of the two coaches.
His side took a point from the Bernabeu that kept them in touching distance of their neighbors, and they also survived Real Madrid turning up the pressure after Mbappe's goal when many other teams would have caved in to defeat.
Atletico also have no midweek game over the next two weeks, while Real Madrid has a Champions League play-off against Manchester City to further drain their legs.
2. Barca the derby winner?
Barcelona went into their game away to Sevilla knowing that a win would take them back to within two points of Real Madrid and leave them one behind Atletico in the title race.
Hansi Flick's side duly obliged with another performance driven by Raphinha, Pedri and Robert Lewandowski, who opened the scoring early in the game.
Although Sevilla was quickly level, Fermin Lopez and Raphinha made the game safe for Barca at the start of the second half and they were able to control the ball even after Fermin had been sent off for a dangerous challenge on the hour.
Barca had slipped to seven points off the top of LaLiga: that gap is back to two - Flick's men can be happy with a weekend where they were the big winners.
3. Sancet makes the difference at Athletic Club
January was a disappointing month for Athletic Club Bilbao's high standards this season, as they lost the semi-final of the Spanish Supercup, went out of the Copa del Rey at home to Osasuna and lost to Besiktas in the Europa League (although that didn't affect their qualification for the last-16).
The key factor in those disappointments was the absence of attacking midfielder, Oihan Sancet with an ankle injury. Sancet returned to the starting 11 with a goal last weekend away to Betis and he scored a hat-trick as Athletic enjoyed an easy 3-0 win at home to Girona on Saturday.
As well as scoring goals, (11 in 1,199 minutes of league football) Sancet links Athletic's midfield and attack and can create space for his companions. If he stays fit the Basque club should get a top-four finish and could even challenge the top-three.
4. Huge win for Valencia
What a difference three days can make for a football team: On Thursday night, the few fans remaining in the Mestalla Stadium booed Valencia off the pitch after a 5-0 Copa del Rey defeat at home to Barcelona, where they barely competed.
The same fans were on their feet on Sunday, cheering a 2-0 win at home to Leganes in a relegation dogfight that, although it still leaves Valencia in the relegation zone, means they are just a point behind Leganes, Las Palmas and Espanyol.
Valencia has won their last three home games under Carlos Corberan, while the best news for the club is the return of defender Mouctar Diakhaby after 11 months out with a knee injury.
Diakhaby scrambled home Valencia's second goal on Sunday and his strength will be vital in the coming weeks if Valencia is to stay up. ■
