MADRID, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Jude Bellingham helped inspire Real Madrid to a win in Girona, while Barcelona dropped more points, Atletico Madrid won an epic game and Athletic Bilbao made it five wins from five games in a big weekend in La Liga. Here are four things we learned in Spain this weekend.
1. Bellingham drives Real Madrid to win
Bellingham had to leave the pitch just before the hour of Real Madrid's 3-0 win in Girona, which steadied the ship following its midweek loss in Bilbao, but by then he had done enough to steer his side to victory.
Bellingham took control of the midfield after half an hour when Girona was the better side, scoring his side's opening goal and then setting up Arda Guler for the second.
A muscle injury forced Bellingham off the pitch and although he has traveled for Tuesday's vital UEFA Champions League match away to Atalanta, he has to be considered a doubt, but with the form he is in, coach Carlo Ancelotti will be keeping his fingers crossed.
2. Barca defense loses cohesion
FC Barcelona was held to a 2-2 draw away to Real Betis, with the home side scoring a 94th-minute equalizer after Barca had twice taken the lead. The result means that Hansi Flick's side has dropped 10 of the last 15 points at stake and has allowed Real and Atletico Madrid into the title race.
The main factor behind Barca's dip in form is that its defense has now started to look vulnerable. This is probably down to tired legs, with the midfield unable to keep up the pressure and errors starting to creep into the back-four.
Flick has used the same block of players for most of the season and needs other options, such as Ronald Araujo, to allow him to rotate more effectively.
3. Atletico gets into title race
Sometimes the best thing that can happen in an Atletico Madrid game is for Diego Simeone's side to fall behind, because that allows fans to see that when it wants to, it can be a very good attacking side. Simeone has players such as Julian Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, Alexander Sorloth and Samuel Lino in his squad, along with midfielders such as Rodrigo De Paul and Manuel Llorente who can score goals.
All too often Simeone's side seems happy to defend a narrow lead, but when forced to attack, as in Sunday's thrilling 4-3 win at home to Sevilla, it shows what it really can do. The win has taken it to within three points of Barcelona with a game in hand, meaning it is right in the title race.
4. Athletic Bilbao gets a grip on top-four
Athletic Bilbao beat Villarreal 2-0 on Sunday in a game between two sides looking to finish in the top-four this season.
Inaki Williams celebrated the 10th anniversary of his first-team debut with the second goal, while Athletic was led brilliantly in midfield by Oihan Sancet and the defense again made zero concessions to its rival.
The win for the Basque side was even more impressive considering it came just four days after a draining win at home to Real Madrid, but seeing players press high in the Villarreal half until the final whistle shows how well Ernesto Valverde's squad rotations are working and the depth of his squad.
Five wins in five games since the international break is testament of that. ■
