‘Barca bad, Madrid worse’ screamed the headline on the front of Mundo Deportivo on Thursday morning.
The sentiment was debatable – at least Real Madrid could say they had been beaten by one of La Liga’s best sides, Barcelona had crumbled against the bottom club.
Both giants of the Spanish game had been humbled inside the space of four hours and suddenly the league looks wide open.
A dejected Lionel Messi following Barcelona’s shock defeat to Leganes on Wednesday night
Real Madrid’s Marcelo reacts with dismay during their 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Sevilla
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reacted with the headline ‘Barca bad, Madrid worse’
Alaves could go top on Tuesday night if they beat Getafe and then if results go their way in the next round of matches Atletico Madrid could have the lead by the weekend.
Whatever happens it seems the title race will not be a procession for Real Madrid and Barcelona this season.
This was the first time in almost four years that they had both lost on the same night. Back in January 2015 Real Madrid lost to Valencia and Barcelona were beaten by David Moyes’ Real Sociedad.
It had not happened since, at least not until last night.
Barcelona were undone in 68 seconds. That’s as long as it took for Leganes to equalise and then take the lead courtesy of some awful defending from Gerard Pique, Thomas Vermaelen and Sergio Robert.
Gareth Bale (left) and his Real team-mates trudge back to restart after Sevilla’s third goal
Mariano Diaz can’t bear it as Real slumped to a miserable loss in Seville on Wednesday night
Marca proclaimed their appreciation for the two unlikely winners with their ‘Giants’ headline
Barcelona-based Sport were pleased Madrid also lost after Barcelona’s humiliation
The two goals should warm Mauricio Pochettino’s heart as he plots Barca downfall next week in the Champions League.
And if sleepy Barca had their pockets picked, Real Madrid suffered a full-scale pillaging at the hands of rampant Sevilla who have now scored 14 goals in their last three games.
It was the first time they had been gone 3-0 down in the first half of a match since 2003.
That was also a Sevilla special with David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane on the pitch for Madrid and Dani Alves just emerging as a force of nature for Sevilla.
Madrid had their gala evening on Monday in London with Luka Modric awarded The Best and many of the rest of the team returning home with trophies. This was the rest of La Liga’s chance to pat themselves on the back.
Maybe the two things were even related. Madrid tend to lose after Fifa prize-giving night. They lost 2-1 to Sevilla in 2016 and 2-1 to Girona in 2017, both after gala award ceremonies.
Barcelona and Real Madrid remain the top two in La Liga, but could be caught this weekend
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde reacts following Barcelona’s humbling at the bottom club
Philippe Coutinho looked agonised by Barcelona’s lacklustre performance at Leganes
Sevilla have found their feet under Pablo Machin who also beat Real Madrid managing Girona last season (in that 2-1 win).
They will now fancy their chances to stay the pace this season and the likes of Valencia – who have yet to pick up their first win but will surely come good – and Villarreal who scored three away to Athletic Bilbao will now be buoyed by what they have seen Sevilla do.
And Leganes’ victory sends a message to even the Liga’s stragglers that anything is possible.
Mauricio Pellegrino was on awful run of eight games without a win adding up his dismal last three matches at Southampton and these first five blanks drawn in La Liga but he was celebrating last night.
The greatest boost to the rest of the teams in Spain will come from the way both Barcelona and Real Madrid defended.
Barcelona trio Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti argue with referee Undiano Mallenco
Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui stands dejected on the sidelines as they lost at Sevilla
Their has been a freeway at Marcelo’s back all season and last night Sevilla diverted all their attacking traffic down it to great effect.
And for Barcelona Pique’s error for the second goal and the no-shows from full-backs Thomas Vermaelen and Sergio Roberto gifted victory to Leganes.
Barcelona only conceded nine goals in the first half of last season, after just six games this term they have already shipped seven.
The only thing Barcelona could celebrate last night was the Real Madrid result. Madrid’s only consolation was the Barca horror show that preceded their own capitulation.
For the rest of La Liga it felt like carnival time – the mighty had fallen and there was plenty to suggest it might not be the last time this season that it happens.