March 29, 2024, 8:46 pm


FT Online

Published:
2019-10-07 22:24:08 BdST

Real Madrid top La Liga as Barca thrash Sevilla


Real Madrid go into the international break as leaders of La Liga after a 4-2 win at home to Granada on Saturday in Spain's Matchday 8.

Zinedine Zidane's side were able to put their midweek Champions League disappointment against Club Brugge behind them against a side who traveled to Madrid second in the table.

Karim Benzema's second minute opener put Madrid on track after a pass from Gareth Bale, and Eden Hazard's first goal for the club on the brink of half-time made it 2-0.

When Luka Modric added a third for the home side in the 61st minute it looked to be game over, but an error from goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on his full debut gave Granada a lifeline from the penalty spot which Darwin Machis duly converted.

When Domingos de Sousa added a second for the visitors in the 77th minute there were nerves around the Santiago Bernabeu stadium until James Rodriguez assured the home side of the win with a 92nd minute goal.

FC Barcelona continued their improved form with a 4-0 win at home to Sevilla, with goals from Luis Suarez, Arturo Vidal, Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi in a game where summer signing Antoine Griezmann didn't play a single minute.

Suarez, Vidal and Dembele put Barca 3-0 up by the break with three goals in eight minutes, and Messi added a fourth with a 78th minute free-kick on a night which ended on a sour note as Dembele and youngster Ronald Araujo were both sent off in the final few minutes.

Atletico Madrid dropped another two points as they were held to a 0-0 draw against Real Valladolid, while Getafe recovered magnificently from Thursday's long trip to Russia with a 2-1 win away to Real Sociedad.

Mikel Merino opened the scoring for the home side in the fifth minute, but after Diego Llorente was sent off early in the second half, Getafe turned the game around with goals from Jaime Mata and Nemanja Maksimovic, who scored an 89th minute winner for the visitors.

Albert Celades enjoyed his first home win as Valencia coach as his side defeated Alaves 2-1. Summer signing Maxi Gomez opened the scoring in the first half and a Dani Parejo penalty made it 2-0 with seven minutes left to play, before Lucas Perez scored a late consolation for the visitors.

Osasuna's very positive return to the top flight continued thanks to a 2-1 home win at home to Villarreal, who took the lead in the fifth minute through a Pau Torres goal.

However, the side from Pamplona fought back and leveled in the last minute of the first half through Facundo Roncaglia, before Chimy Avila scored the winner with 13 minutes left.

Iago Aspas' 74th minute header gave Celta Vigo a much-needed 1-0 win at home to Athletic Bilbao, who failed to create enough threat in attack to take anything from the game.

Espanyol coach David Gallego is in trouble as his side lost 2-0 away to Mallorca, with goals in either half from Ante Budimir and former Espanyol player Salvador Sevilla leaving Wu Lei's side 19th in the table.

Leganes remain rock bottom with just two points from eight games as they were beaten 2-1 at home against Levante, in a game where the visitors can thank goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez for an outstanding display.

Roger Marti put Levante ahead from the penalty spot in first-half injury time and Jose Campana doubled his side's lead with a free-kick in the 49th minute.

Martin Braithwaite threw Leganes a lifeline in the 76th minute, but three minutes later Aitor frustrated Leganes when he saved Braithwaite's penalty after a foul in the Levante area.

Friday saw Real Betis' irregular start to the season continue as they were held 1-1 by Eibar in the first match of the weekend.  

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