Barca and Real Madrid endure surprise La Liga defeats

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The previous time Barcelona and Real Madrid lost La Liga games on the same day was Jan. 4, 2015. Three years passed as Barcelona conceded twice in 68 seconds and Real Madrid were three down at half-time as La Liga's two title favorites were each stunned by surprise defeats on Wednesday night.

Barca's 2-1 loss to relegation fighters Leganes was the greater shock but Madrid's beating was more emphatic, blown away 3-0 by Sevilla after a torrid 39 minutes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

For both, it was their first defeat of the season and for both, defensive fragility was the key factor, which will be a major concern with the second round of Champions League games to come next week.

Barca concede twice in 68 seconds

"We are in a very difficult moment that was unexpected," Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said.

Gerard Pique committed the decisive error, his fluffed clearance allowing Oscar Rodriguez to score Leganes' second goal in two incredible minutes.

Gerard Pique battles for a loose ball before giving up Barcelona's second goal during a 2-1 loss to Leganes. /VCG Photo

After drawing at home to Girona on Sunday, albeit with 10 men, Valverde's selection also came under scrutiny, after he opted to rotate for the second time in three days.

Against Girona, it was Coutinho, Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti on the bench and just as they all had to be called upon in the second half at the Camp Nou, so were Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba this time.

"Of course the coach is responsible, a losing coach always feels responsible," Valverde said.

"But obviously it is easy now to talk about the rotations. In the end, matches are analyzed on results, but you can't win the league with only 11 players."

Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday and then Tottenham at Wembley in the Champions League four days later but one point from two of La Liga's lesser opponents is a concern.

Real's heavy loss at Sevilla

Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui. /VCG Photo

Real Madrid, who were just kicking off as Leganes closed out, could have pulled three points clear at the top but instead were three down at half-time for the first time in a league game since 2003, also against Sevilla.

Twice Jesus Navas sped away on the counter-attack, and twice he found Andre Silva, the first time with a deliberate cut-back, the second when his shot was palmed out for a rebound.

Wissam Ben Yedder added a third six minutes before the interval, volleying in from close range after the Madrid defense had pushed out.

"We had a bad first half," Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui said. "Especially a bad start, when they scored two goals and set the tone for the game.

"We have to pick ourselves up, we have another important game in three days so we congratulate Sevilla and recognize we have not played how we wanted."

Source(s): AFP