MADRID, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona maintains its leadership at the top of La Liga in Spain's matchday 25, while Atletico Madrid won in Valencia, Real Madrid made light of Jude Bellingham's absence, and Athletic Club Bilbao was in seventh heaven. Here are four things we learned this weekend.
1. Barcelona keeps it tight in tough Las Palmas win
Barcelona had to work hard in Las Palmas on Saturday night before second half goals from Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres gave them a 2-0 win to keep it at top of La Liga.
Las Palmas was aggressive and looked to move the ball quickly, but although it stopped Barca's usual fluidity in midfield and attack, it struggled to create clear chances, against a defense that once again kept a high line but showed the discipline to catch its rivals offside six times.
The last of those offsides was vital as Las Palmas appealed for a late penalty for handball against Eric Garcia, and it would have been given but for the VAR spotting an offside as the ball went into the Barca penalty area, but overall Wojciech Szczesny didn't have to make a difficult save.
2. Griezmann pulls strings while Alvarez scores goals
Atletico Madrid's visit to an improving Valencia looked like it could be difficult for Diego Simeone's side on paper, especially without midfielders, Pablo Barrios and Koke, but the game was as good as over at halftime after Julian Alvarez put Atletico 2-0 ahead.
His first goal came after he fired home a rebound after Samuel Lino had hit the bar from Antoine Griezmann's smart pass and the second was a header from a Griezmann cross.
Although Griezmann didn't score, he was vital in the win and Simeone's main issue is keeping a player who will be 34 next month, fresh ahead of a two Copa del Rey games against Barcelona and a Champions League knockout against Real Madrid.
Meanwhile Alvarez's 19 goals in all competitions show that although he was expensive, at 90 million euros, it was money well spent.
3. Modric pulls strings as Real Madrid wins
Real Madrid created plenty of chances in its 2-0 win at home to Girona, but it wasn't until five minutes before halftime that it took the lead, when Luka Modric was left in space outside of the Girona penalty area and given time to control the ball on his chest and fire a powerful volley into the top corner of the visitor's net.
Modric isn't far off his 40th birthday and tends not to start games where his side may have some defending to do, but against rivals, such as Girona who sits deep and gives him time, there is nobody with a better eye to find space than the Croatian.
4. Fitting homage to De Marcos as Athletic runs riot
Athletic Club Bilbao's veteran defender Oscar de Marcos announced during the week that he was retiring at the end of the season, and it seems fitting that the day he made appearance no. 561 to become the outfield player with the most games for the club, his side gave him the perfect homage with a 7-1 thrashing of Valladolid.
Valladolid had no response to Athletic's pressure and pace and without goalkeeper Karl Hein, the win would have even more scandalous.
Athletic is unbeaten in a club record 16 league games, although next weekend away to Atletico Madrid will be a big test. Meanwhile, Valladolid looks doomed to relegation. ■
