Ahead of the midweek round of games in LaLiga, let’s look back at all the action from a potentially pivotal weekend.
By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert
Real Madrid beat Barcelona in El Clásico
Real Madrid are now the only unbeaten team in LaLiga this season after Sunday’s 3-1 win over Barcelona in El Clásico. Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Los Blancos after a fine run from Vinícius Júnior, whose shot was saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen but found its way into the Frenchman’s path. It was his 12th goal against Barcelona and set up a big win for the champions ahead of his trip to Paris to receive the Ballon d’Or on Monday. Not a bad couple of days for the French forward.
Barcelona played well enough in the first half and Robert Lewandowski missed a great chance as he slid in on the stretch at the far post but hit his shot over the bar from close range. Fede Valverde was then left in lots of space to make it 2-0 following another counter-attack 10 minutes after that, the Uruguayan hitting a low drive into the corner from outside the box for his fifth of the season – already his best return as a Real Madrid player.
Substitute Ansi Fati gave Barça a lifeline with an excellent run down the left and cross for Ferran Torres to pull a goal back in the closing stages, but the referee brought play back to award Rodrygo a penalty – following a VAR check – right at the end after what had looked like an innocuous challenge by Eric García. The Brazilian scored the spot-kick himself to round off a fairly comfortable win, which sees Carlo Ancelotti’s side move three points clear of their fierce rivals at the top of the table with nine fixtures played.
“In the first half we were better, more clinical, more effective,” Ancelotti said after the game. “They tend to press high and we had the confidence to play out from the back. Defensively we did well. The team was committed, we didn’t leave any spaces. The first half was the key to the game.”
Valverde’s new-found goal threat has been a feature of Madrid’s season and the Uruguayan’s strike gave Madrid a cushion at the break: “He is getting used to playing in this position [on the right]. He’s scoring goals, and he has spectacular energy,” Ancelotti said.
For Barcelona, it was a disappointing defeat on the back of the midweek draw at home to Inter in the Champions League, which leaves the Blaugrana in danger of dropping down to the Europa League for a second season in a row.
“The feeling is that we are in a negative dynamic,” Xavi said. “That we tried. We had faith and pride in what we were doing. Luckily, it’s just three points. It was an opportunity to stay leaders and we leave with nothing.
“We couldn’t take advantage of our good moments and they defended very well. We have to change the dynamic.”
Xavi added that Barça were ‘in construction’ and said: “We have to improve a lot.”
For Madrid, it was a welcome win after last season’s 4-0 loss in the same fixture.
“Last season I tried to invent something,” Ancelotti said in reference to that defeat. “This time, I put the players in their [rightful] positions.”
Atlético up to third; Betis, Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Sevilla all win
Atlético Madrid are up to third place in LaLiga following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Athletic Club. Álvaro Morata saw an early effort ruled out by VAR but set up Antoine Griezmann for the only goal of the game early in the second half, the French forward – who is starting games again now his permanent return from Barcelona has been negotiated – beating Unai Simón with a neat finish. Atleti also had goalkeeper Jan Oblak to thank for two superb saves and there was a vital block from Reinildo Mandava as the Rojiblancos clung on for three vital points. “After 11 years [here], I still get excited by winning like we did today,” Diego Simeone said.
Elsewhere, Real Betis moved level with Atlético in fourth by beating Almería 3-1 at the Benito Villamarin. Real Sociedad also have 19 points and are fifth after a 2-1 win at Espanyol and Villarreal are seventh (behind Athletic) following a 2-0 victory at home to Osasuna.
A bit lower down, Sevilla are also on the up after registering their first win in Jorge Sampaoli’s second spell in charge – a 1-0 success at Mallorca – to climb to 14th.
And at the very bottom, Elche are the only LaLiga team without a win in 2022-23, although they did earn a creditable 2-2 draw at Valencia to claim only their third point of the season. Edinson Cavani scored both of Valencia’s goals, his first since signing for the club in late August.
(Images from IMAGO)
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