MADRID: Reigning champions Actual Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 within the Clasico to overhaul their fierce opponents on the best of L. a. Liga on Sunday. Karim Benzema opened the scoring within the twelfth minute by way of changing a rebound after Marc-Andre ter Stegen stored from Vinicius Junior, with Fede Valverde drilling house the second one from the brink of the field ahead of the damage.
Ferran Torres pulled one again for Barcelona within the ultimate phases after excellent paintings by way of Ansu Fati, however Rodrygo received and transformed a past due penalty to make sure Carlo Ancelotti’s facet inflicted Barcelona’s first home defeat of the season. Madrid ended the Catalans’ seven-game profitable streak within the league and added to the still-raw ache in their struggles in Europe, the place they’re at the verge of Champions League removing.
Barcelona, who spent closely in the summertime to check out and meet up with their opponents, now path them by way of 3 issues. The Catalans had conceded only one league objective in 8 video games ahead of the Clasico however shipped double that tally within the first half of, leaving Madrid because the department’s most effective unbeaten facet. After a harmful draw with Inter Milan midweek that left Barcelona’s Eu hopes putting by way of a thread, Xavi made adjustments. Jules Kounde returned after damage to reinforce the protection, with veteran defender Gerard Pique, who made a expensive error towards the Italians, throwing in the towel. Frenkie de Jong and Alejandro Balde additionally got here into the facet.
Xavi’s counterpart Ancelotti had fewer selections to make, with Valverde getting the nod over Rodrygo at the proper of the assault, whilst Andriy Lunin began in objective with Thibaut Courtois no longer in a position to go back after struggling sciatica. Remaining season Barcelona’s absolute best second got here on the Bernabeu, as Xavi’s facet earned a shocking 4-0 win, however this seek advice from discovered them at their lowest ebb because the Spanish Global Cup winner took price.
Benzema at the cash
Vinicius probed within the opening phases down the left flank towards the unconvincing Sergi Roberto and that was once the place Madrid’s opening objective got here from after 12 mins. The masterful Toni Kroos held off Sergio Busquets and threaded a neat go down the wing, with Vinicius leaving Roberto for useless. Ter Stegen denied the Brazilian winger, however Benzema was once available to slam house the rebound.
The French ahead had long gone 5 video games and not using a objective, however ended his drought at the giant level, appearing in most cases absolute best timing as he’s anticipated to win the Ballon d’Or in Paris on Monday. The guests must have leveled when Raphinha fired a go alongside the six-yard field which De Jong neglected after which Lewandowski, at complete stretch, despatched prime over the crossbar. The Polish striker, L. a. Liga’s best scorer on 9 objectives, may slightly imagine he had neglected, despite the fact that he would possibly were offside.
Vinicius was once booked for complaining a few push from Roberto as Barcelona started to earn a foothold within the recreation, however every other person error temporarily pulled it clear of them. Eric Garcia’s free header discovered Vinicius in a deadly space and Madrid toyed with Barcelona’s defence, dragging them a method ahead of Ferland Mendy handed the ball again throughout for Valverde to drill house from the brink of the realm. Madrid endured to push ahead after the damage and Benzema curled house a 3rd, however it was once dominated out for offside.
On the different finish Lewandowski despatched a free-kick into the wall and appealed for a penalty after Dani Carvajal collided with him within the field, however the referee was once no longer . Exchange Fati angled a strike extensive from outdoor the realm however Madrid have been in large part at ease, sitting again and preserving Barcelona at arm’s period till Torres struck. Fati’s good run and go for the Spanish winger gave Barcelona a lifeline, however Madrid sealed the win when Garcia trod on Rodrygo within the space and he beat Ter Stegen from the spot.
Atletico beat Athletic
In the meantime, Antoine Griezmann’s strike earned Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao to assist Diego Simeone’s facet leapfrog their Basque combatants and transfer 3rd in L. a. Liga on Saturday. Atletico’s objective lived a charmed lifestyles within the ultimate phases, due to good protecting from Reinildo Mandava and a few spectacular saves from Ivo Grbic, who needed to come on for the injured Jan Oblak.
Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic, now fourth, have been awarded a past due penalty for handball towards Reinildo, however it was once cancelled after the officers noticed the ball had struck the defender at the face. Griezmann, who neglected a penalty and quite a lot of possibilities all through two irritating fits towards Membership Brugge within the Champions League, was once overjoyed to internet the winner. Athletic’s Inaki Williams neglected a loose header early on, whilst Alvaro Morata had a objective disallowed for a bad.
The house lovers, inspired by way of their staff’s sturdy begin to the season, had San Mames rocking all through half-time. Griezmann temporarily spoiled the birthday celebration surroundings when he stroked house within the forty seventh minute following a cut-back from Alvaro Morata. The 31-year-old finished a century of L. a. Liga objectives for Atletico, most effective the 6th participant to take action within the membership’s historical past. Atletico have been dealt an obvious blow when Oblak went off injured, showing to harm his shoulder after a collision with Alex Berenguer previous within the half of.
Alternatively his alternative Grbic made two positive saves ahead of referee Jorge Figueroa Vazquez pointed to the penalty spot. Reinildo was once accused of a handball however the Mozambican blocked Oier Zarraga’s power along with his face and it was once scrapped. Six mins into stoppage time Athletic have been poised to degree however Reinildo made every other elegant block to disclaim Raul Garcia simply a few yards out.
Making improvements to
Previous Nemanja Gudelj scored one of the most objectives of the season to earn Sevilla a 1-0 win at Mallorca, their first in seven video games throughout all competitions. Gudelj, over 30 yards out, arrowed a formidable strike into the highest left nook after 53 mins to assist Sevilla upward thrust provisionally to thirteenth. Morocco’s Bono made a super save to disclaim Mallorca ahead Abdon Prats within the 6th minute and crucially was once fast off his line to stay out Angel Rodriguez within the ultimate phases. New Sevilla trainer Jorge Sampaoli, on the membership for his 2nd spell in price, had drawn the 2 fits ahead of this. – AFP