Rival watch: Atlético and Real Madrid win, Swansea stun Arsenal

[[DES_1]]

Atlético Madrid moved to within five points of FC Barcelona (who could restore their eight point lead with a win at Rayo Vallecano on Thursday) by seeing off Real Sociedad in convincing fashion on Tuesday night. An early own goal from Diego Reyes started things for the red-and-whites, and Saúl and Griezmann (the latter from the penalty spot) finished off the job.

Third placed Real Madrid had to battle all the way for a 3-1 win at bottom-of-the-table Levante. A Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and a Mariño own goal put Zinedine Zidane’s side two goals up, but Deyverson then pulled one back for the home side. An intense game wasn’t over until Isco bagged Madrid’s third right at the end.

Barça’s opponents at the weekend, Eibar, were away to the side the Blaugrana will play in the Copa del Rey final, Sevilla. The latter went ahead through Fernando Llorente after 11 minutes, and despite plenty of gripping football there was no further score, and the defeat has done no good at all to Eibar’s bid for a first ever European place.

Swansea beat Arsenal

On a dramatic evening in the English Premiership, neither Arsenal nor Tottenham managed to capitalise on leaders Leicester City’s draw with West Bromwich Albion the night before. Both of North London’s title contenders lost their Wednesday fixtures, three days before they meet each other in Saturday's derby.

Joel Campbell put Barça’s Champions League rivals 1-0 up against relegation threatened Swansea City, but the Welsh side struck back through Routledge and Williams and ended up claiming all three points. It leaves the Gunners six points adrift of top spot, and to add to the drama, second placed Spurs also lost, 1-0 at West Ham.