The title race in LALIGA EA SPORTS has become captivating after eight rounds. FC Barcelona has finally experienced their first defeat of the season, yet they remain at the top with 21 points. Real Madrid is close behind in second place with 18 points, while Atlético de Madrid sits in third with 16 points.
In the last four days, Atlético de Madrid has scored two crucial late goals to bolster their points. After Julián Alvarez netted a 90th-minute goal to secure a 1-0 victory for Atleti against RC Celta midweek, Ángel Correa emerged in the dying moments of the Madrid Derby, scoring a 95th-minute equalizer to finish Sunday’s match against Real Madrid at 1-1.
Correa also found the net in the 92nd minute during Atlético de Madrid’s Matchday 4 clash against Athletic Club, ensuring a 1-0 win for Diego Simeone’s side. It’s evident that the Argentine super sub has a knack for scoring. Interestingly, 26 of Correa’s 82 goals for Atlético have come when he was a substitute, compared to 56 as a starter. He scores at a rate of one goal every 213 minutes as a substitute, versus one goal every 287 minutes as a starter.
In Sunday’s Madrid Derby, Correa was subbed in during the 70th minute as one of Simeone’s final attempts to change the game. He entered the pitch while Real Madrid was already leading 1-0, thanks to Éder Militão’s goal from a free kick. However, Atlético Madrid refused to back down, and Correa found the equalizer in the dying moments, capitalizing on a perfect pass from Javi Galán and finishing past Thibaut Courtois.
Not only did this goal result in a 1-1 draw, keeping both capital teams unbeaten this season, but it could also have significant ramifications for the title race. FC Barcelona, after winning their first seven matches, suffered a 4-2 loss to CA Osasuna on Saturday, shaking up the title standings. While Barcelona still leads, they are now just three points ahead of Real Madrid and five points ahead of Atlético Madrid following this weekend’s draw.
Though Atlético is currently in third place, they are clearly in contention for this season’s title and show no signs of giving up. Under Diego Simeone, the mentality of fighting until the final whistle is firmly established, evident in the five points gained so far from goals scored after the 89th minute.
Moreover, Atlético de Madrid holds the best record in the last 15 minutes of matches. Throughout the 2024/25 LALIGA EA SPORTS season, Atlético has scored five goals and conceded none in the final quarter of matches. This is by far the best record in the league, with no other team boasting a goal difference of more than plus two in that timeframe.
It will be intriguing to see how far Atlético de Madrid can advance in the title race this season. One thing is certain: Simeone’s side will never back down.
