Barcelona and Atlético Madrid Strengthen Their La Liga Positions with Key Wins

In the latest round of La Liga matches on December 21, 2025, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid both secured important victories that have reinforced their standings in the league.

At Estadi Montilivi, Atlético Madrid dominated Girona with a 3-0 victory. The hosts struggled to contain Atlético, who struck early and often. Koke opened the scoring in the 13th minute, followed by Conor Gallagher in the 38th minute. Antoine Griezmann sealed the win in stoppage time (90'+2). Atlético Madrid showcased their attacking prowess with six shots on target compared to Girona's two, and they maintained a slight possession advantage of 50.8%. With this win, Atlético Madrid maintains third place in La Liga with 37 points, while Girona continues to battle near the lower end of the table in 16th place with 15 points.

Meanwhile, at the Estadio de la Cerámica, FC Barcelona defeated Villarreal 2-0 in a match that solidified Barcelona's position as La Liga leaders. Raphinha put Barcelona ahead early by converting a penalty in the 12th minute, awarded after Santi Comesaña fouled him. Shortly after, Raphinha nearly doubled the lead with a powerful shot that hit the crossbar. Villarreal's chances were further undermined when Renato Veiga was sent off just before halftime for a harsh foul on Lamine Yamal, leaving Villarreal a man down. Barcelona controlled the second half, with Lamine Yamal netting a second goal in the 63rd minute following a rebound. This result extends Barcelona's lead to 46 points, four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid. Villarreal, now eleven points behind the leaders, still hold a game in hand.

Both matches emphasize the strength of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in this season's title race, as they build momentum heading into the second half of the campaign.