Tag: La Liga

MADRID: Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior inspired runaway La Liga champions Real Madrid to a 5-0 rout of Alaves on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side continued warming up for the Champions League final with a comprehensive demolition of their Basque visitors.

Bellingham scored the opener and played a part in Madrid’s next three goals, two scored by Vinicius, finding his best form at the business end of the season.

Turkish teenager Arda Guler added a late fifth to put the cherry on Madrid’s cake, moving them 17 points clear of second-place Barcelona.

“We’ve had just one defeat in the league and I think that a big part of the success is because of (the defence),” Ancelotti told reporters after his side’s 30th consecutive league game unbeaten.

Madrid celebrated their title with an open-top bus parade on Sunday but with the Wembley final a little over a fortnight away, nobody is letting their concentration slip.

Least of all Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, made a fine double save from Samu Omorodion in the opening minutes.

After missing most of the season with a severe knee injury, Courtois is hoping for a Champions League final start and boasts three clean sheets in three matches since his return.

“I knew I’d come back strongly — I’m the same Courtois, or even better,” said the goalkeeper.

Ancelotti selected the vast majority of his first choice line-up after resting them at the weekend, and Madrid’s usual suspect opened the scoring. It was Bellingham, with his 19th league goal and perhaps his luckiest.

The England international directed Toni Kroos’ cross towards the far post where Dani Carvajal was running in, but the ball sank directly into the net.

Bellingham trails La Liga’s top scorer, Girona’s Artem Dovbyk, by one goal.

Madrid doubled their lead after Bellingham threaded a pass-through for Eduardo Camavinga.

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The French midfielder burst forward in the box and unselfishly squared for Vinicius to tap home when other players might have taken the chance to shoot.

Alaves midfielder Ianis Hagi, son of legendary Romanian playmaker Gheorghe Hagi, stung the palms of Courtois with a fierce drive at the other end.

The visitors have enjoyed a strong season and are safely ensconced in mid-table, avoiding the stress of a relegation battle.

However, Madrid dismantled them with consummate ease and Fede Valverde rattled home the third in first-half stoppage time after Bellingham played him in.

The Uruguayan midfielder hammered a strike into the top corner at the near post for his second league goal of the season, far fewer than his tally of seven last year due to his deeper role.

Courtois denied Omorodion and Hagi again in the second half as he continued stating his case to Ancelotti, and he ended up making nine saves altogether.

Vinicius extended Madrid’s lead after Bellingham played him in, lashing home his second of the night with a fine finish.

“I’m at my best,” said Vinicius. “Now we’ve got time to train and that lets us stay calm, do good work and arrive better than ever at Wembley.”

Rodrygo should have added the fifth but goalkeeper Jesus Owono denied him from close range after Vinicius teed him up, and so it was Guler instead after a deflected effort fell his way in the box.

“Every time a small team comes here, it’s a torment,” lamented Alaves coach Luis Garcia Plaza.

Eder Militao and Carvajal ended the game with apparent physical issues, but they turned out to be nothing serious.

“What happened with the knee is nothing,” Militao said after the game, while Ancelotti confirmed the Spanish defender was also fine.

Elsewhere high-flying Girona, third, fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Villarreal — Barcelona can move four points clear if they win at Almeria on Thursday.

Mallorca, 15th, rescued a 1-1 draw at Osasuna to add one more point in their battle for survival. The Copa del Rey runners-up are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

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Real Madrid defeated Cadiz 3-0, while Girona registered a stunning 4-2 victory over defending La Liga champions Barcelona to seal a record-extending 36th title for Los Blancos on Saturday.

Real Madrid’s comfortable win over Cadiz sent them 14 points clear of third-placed Barcelona in the La Liga points table with only 12 left to play.

Meanwhile, Girona is trailing Real Madrid by 13 points in second position after their second 4-2 win over Barcelona.

Cadiz showed resistance against Real Madrid in the initial phase of the game, however, Los Blancos nullified their attempts at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

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Brahim Diaz opened the scoring for the hosts after the first half, followed by a brilliant goal by Jude Bellingham 17 minutes later to extend the lead.

Joselu ensured that the home side ended the match on high with the third goal to seal the dominant victory.

“We’ve had a spectacular Liga campaign,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters after the victory. “We’ve made few errors and the advantage is deserved.”

“We leave our skins out there on the pitch to live moments like today’s,” Madrid striker Joselu said.

“There are young players who are very hungry for titles, veterans who are delighted to be here… and these are special moments.”

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Barcelona needed the victory in their clash against Girona to keep title hopes alive and Andreas Christensen sent them ahead in the third minute.

However, Girona bounced back a minute later as Artem Dovbyk levelled the score.

Both teams fought hard to get the lead before Barcelona were awarded a penalty at the stroke of half-time, which Robert Lewandowski converted.

Girona came back strongly in the second half with Portu and Miguel Gutiérrez scoring two goals in three minutes to take the home team ahead in 67 minutes.

Portu scored another one in the 74th minute to further extend Girona’s lead, which remained intact until the final whistle.

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BARCELONA: Polish striker Robert Lewandowski struck a hat-trick to power the home team to a dominant 4-2 victory over Valencia during their La Liga clash at Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys on Monday.

Barcelona earned three points and edged past Girona to reach second position, only behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Mid-fielder Fermin Lopez earned the advantage for the home team in 22 minutes as he sent a header into the top corner of the net from near the penalty spot.

However, Valencia’s Hugo Duro levelled the scores four minutes later after an error from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

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Barcelona made another error in the next ten minutes when Ronald Araujo brought down a Valencia forward and conceded a foul.

Valencia earned the penalty and Pepelu successfully converted to put the visitors ahead.

But Valencia lost their goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili after he was shown a red card, prompting the visiting team to reshuffle their lineup on the stroke of the first half.

This proved costly as Lewandowski hit the equalizer for Barcelona five minutes into the second half after finding Ilkay Gundogan’s corner. The Polish star hit another header in the 82nd minute to end the stalemate.

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Lewandowski completed his hat trick during injury-time with a free-kick into the top left corner.

“I think the team did well… we lacked calmness, tranquillity, but I’m satisfied with the team’s attitude,” Barcelona boss Xavi said after the match.

Barcelona will play their next La Liga match against third-ranked Girona on 4 May.

Girona are chasing Champions League qualification which they could secure with a victory, which could also hand Madrid the title.

“It’ll be a great game, two teams looking to go on the attack,” said Xavi, whose side lost 4-2 at home against Girona in December.

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MADRID: Jude Bellingham scored an injury-time winner and lifted Real Madrid to edge arch-rivals Barcelona 3-2 in an enthralling La Liga El Clasico at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium here on Sunday.

The highly-anticipated clash got off to a contrasting start as Andres Christensen opened the scoring for Barcelona just six minutes into the game.

Christensen scored a header from Raphinha’s corner after Andriy Lunin failed to clear the ball from his six-yard box.

Barcelona must dust themselves down after the Champions League defeat to try and slow Real Madrid’s steady march towards the La Liga title in Sunday’s El Clasico.

The Spanish champions can make a last stand by reeling Madrid’s lead into five points at the Santiago Bernabeu, even if overhauling their arch-rivals with seven matches remaining to defend the trophy is a tough task.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) brought Barcelona’s European adventure to an end in painful fashion on Tuesday, overhauling the Catalans’ two-goal lead in the tie.

Picking up his squad emotionally after that defeat will not be an easy task for Xavi Hernandez, with some Spanish reports saying the coach may leave his post after the game with reserve team coach Rafael Marquez a possible replacement.

Xavi said in January he would depart at the end of the season and despite a strong run of form since leading to a clamour for him to stay, has not changed his mind.

Defeat by PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals may have ended any chance of that happening, beyond a miracle comeback in La Liga.

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If that is to happen it must begin in the capital against a Madrid side exhausted but jubilant after they beat treble-winners Manchester City on penalties on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals.

Xavi’s first job is to calm any potential tension within his squad after midfielder Ilkay Gundogan criticised defender Ronald Araujo for his early red card which cost Barcelona against PSG.

“I’ll keep what I think to myself, I have codes and values that I think have to be respected,” Araujo told reporters.

The Uruguayan centre-back, who was also sent off against Real Madrid in January in Barcelona’s painful 4-1 hammering in the Spanish Super Cup final, said his team would not throw in the towel in La Liga.

“Madrid are our biggest rival and we have to change our mindset — we’ll go all out on Sunday,” continued Araujo.

“We mathematically have a chance still and we have to fight for La Liga until the end.”

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Barcelona have not lost away from home in La Liga this season, while goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has gone 583 minutes without conceding in the top flight — 53 short of his best record in the competition.

With Madrid having defended for their lives against City over 120 minutes of high-intensity football, Barcelona may be able to capitalise.

“On Sunday we’ll compete again, we’re not throwing in the towel in La Liga,” said Xavi. “Let’s see if we can put ourselves within five points (of Madrid).”

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team were “very tired” but would find the strength to continue their title tilt.

“The Clasico is crucial for the league,” said the Italian, who has won La Liga on one occasion, with Madrid in 2022.

As well as their Spanish Super Cup triumph over Barca, Madrid also won the first Clasico of the season at the Olympic Stadium in October and are looking to make it a hat-trick.

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PAMPLONA: Croatian striker Ante Budimir missed a crucial last-minute penalty, resulting in Osasuna losing against Valencia during their La Liga clash at El Sadar Stadium on Monday.

Valencia were on the cusp of a comfortable 1-0 victory when the home team earned a penalty in the dying minutes of the game to level the scores.

Budimir was entrusted with the responsibility to take the crucial strike, however, he blew the chance with a disastrous effort.

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He started a stuttered run-up and took a weak shot which went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Both teams entered the game carrying momentum from victories in their last games.

Within the first ten minutes, Osasuna nearly scored, but Moi Gomez’s shot was blocked, causing the home team to miss their chance at taking the lead.

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However, Andre Almeida took the visitors ahead after he found Diego Lopez in the 17th minute and hit the bottom left corner of the net to score the only goal of the match.

Valencia will play their next La Liga match against Real Betis on 20 April, while Osasuna will face Rayo Vallecano on the same day.

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Adri Embarba struck a late penalty to secure a draw for bottom-ranked Almeria against Real Sociedad in the La Liga 2023-24 clash at Reale Arena on Sunday.

Real Sociedad entered into the match with a three-match winning streak, but they were taken by surprise by the visitors.

The hosts made three unsuccessful attempts to earn the advantage before Embarbe rose to the occasion and got the lead for Almeria at the half-hour mark.

Marc Pubill assisted Embarba, who smoothly sent the ball from outside the box to the bottom right corner.

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However, Sheraldo Becker hit the equalizer two minutes later as he found Javi Galan’s cross in the centre of the box and guided the ball past the goalkeeper.

Becker appeared to hit another one but the goalkeeper took swift action to extend Real Sociedad’s wait for the second goal.

The first half ended at a 1-1 stalemate but Mikel Oyarzabal pushed the hosts ahead within ten minutes into the second half after an assist by Becker.

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Real Sociedad dominated the game in the second half and were set to extend their winning streak to four games before Igor Zubeldia was shown a red card in the 85th minute.

Almeria was awarded a penalty, which was successfully converted by Embarba to earn a 2-2 draw.

Meanwhile, in another La Liga clash, Athletic Bilbao’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League suffered a blow as Dani Parejo’s injury-time penalty secured a 1-1 draw for 10-man Villarreal at San Mames.

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PALMA: Aurelien Tchouameni scored a long-range goal to help Real Madrid secure a 1-0 victory over Mallorca in their La Liga 2023-24 match at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Saturday.

The victory helped Real Madrid to stay eight points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga points table ahead of the upcoming El Clasico.

The France midfielder, who is suspended for the second leg of Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final away to Manchester City next week, scored three minutes into the second half with a deflected 25-metre drive.

Jude Bellingham rattled the crossbar in the first half with a rasping effort from just outside the area as coach Carlo Ancelotti reshuffled his attack with Wednesday’s trip to England in mind, leaving out Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

Tchouameni’s third goal of the season put Real Madrid ahead, with Brahim Diaz denied a second by the legs of Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic and Fede Valverde’s attempt cleared off the line.

Vinicius appeared off the bench for the last 30 minutes but Rodrygo and Toni Kroos were unused substitutes after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City in Tuesday’s first leg.

Sergi Darder’s spectacular dipping shot forced a flying stop from Andriy Lunin as Madrid extended their unbeaten league run to 25 games, keeping Barcelona a safe distance behind ahead of next week’s Clasico in the Spanish capital.

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“It’s a very important victory, which brings us closer to the title. We’re on a good run and now we’re going to think about Wednesday, that we have time to recover well and try to do our best,” said Ancelotti.

“Having an advantage before (next) Sunday’s game is very important and that was the goal.”

Copa del Rey runners-up Mallorca stay in 15th, six points above the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Barcelona, who are desperately trying to force their way back into the title race, matched Madrid’s result with a 1-0 win of their own at third-bottom Cadiz.

Joao Felix’s clever overhead late in the first half secured the points as coach Xavi Hernandez made sweeping changes to the team that beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The Portugal international led the attack in the absence of the suspended Robert Lewandowski, acrobatically hooking in the only goal after a Cadiz defender’s looping header from a corner fell directly to him.

Fermin Lopez had an effort scrambled off the line and Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s sprawling save to claw away a Diadie Samassekou piledriver preserved a sixth successive clean sheet in the league for the visitors.

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Atletico Madrid completed a good four days as they followed their Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Borussia Dortmund with a 3-1 La Liga victory over third-placed Girona, courtesy of Antoine Griezmann’s brace.

Antoine Griezmann scored twice as Diego Simeone’s men moved to within four points of their opponents and pulled five clear of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao in the race for Champions League qualification.

The Basques play Villarreal on Sunday.

Atletico won the home leg of their European tie 2-1 on Wednesday and visit Dortmund for the second leg on Tuesday.

Girona took the lead in Madrid with a fourth-minute goal from close range by Artem Dovbyk that took him on to a league-leading 17 goals.

Antoine Griezmann responded by converting a 34th-minute penalty.

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Angel Correa then gave the home side the lead six minutes into added time at the end of the first half.

Griezmann extended his lead five minutes into the second half, taking advantage of a defensive error to fire home his 13th league goal of the season.

With an eye on the game in Germany, the France attacker was then replaced shortly after the hour mark by Marcos Llorente.

Girona’s fifth defeat away from home, gives Barcelona, buoyed by their midweek 3-2 Champions League win at Paris Saint-Germain, the chance to tighten their grip on second when they visit struggling Cadiz in the last game of the day.

Real Madrid, eight points clear at the top of the La Liga standings, play at Mallorca later on Saturday.

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VILLARREAL: Saul Niguez scores in the 87th minute to secure a win for Atletico Madrid against Villarreal in their La Liga 2023-24 fixture at Estadio de la Cerámica on Monday.

The 2-1 victory pushed Atletico Madrid up to fourth place in the La Liga standings, now trailing third-placed Girona by only seven points.

The visitors opened the scoring early on with Axel Witsel finding Rodrigo Riquelme’s cross following a corner and headed the ball to the top right corner of the net.

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However, Villarreal levelled five minutes into the second half as Alexander Sorloth got his name on the scoring sheet.

He found Gerard Moreno in the 49th minute and hit the equalizer from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

The entertaining clash was heading towards a stalemate when Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone substituted Pablo Barrios with Saul Niguez in the 83rd minute.

Saul did not take too long and scored the winner in less than five minutes after coming off the bench courtesy of an assist by Cesar Azpilicueta.

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“(Saul) entered the game well and scored a great goal,” Simeone said after the match. “I’ve put him on a bunch of times because I believe in him and I hope he can give us a lot.”

Simeone said his team still needed to improve to lock down Champions League qualification for next season.

“Athletic are having a very good season, Girona aren’t giving up, and we have to improve,” said the coach. “Pace of play and intensity decide things and we have to improve in that regard.”

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