Barcelona missed out on the chance to go 11 points clear at the top of the Primera Division as they squandered a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw at Villarreal.
Ivan Rakitic's half-volley and a classy 'Panenka' penalty from Neymar had given Luis Enrique's side a comfortable lead before half-time.
But Villarreal fought back after the break, Cedric Bakambu halving the deficit before Jeremy Mathieu knocked the ball into his own net just moments after coming on as a substitute.
Despite failing to win for the first time in 13 league games, Barca increased their lead over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid at the top of the table to nine points after the Rojiblancos lost 2-1 at Sporting Gijon, while Villarreal remain fourth, picking up a first point in three games.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid used goals from Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Jese to overcome pesky Sevilla 4-0 at the Bernabeu.
Benzema eased nerves early with an impressive first-time finish of a Bale cross from the center of the box in the sixth minute.
It would take nearly an hour for Real to score again, but Los Blancos did so in rapid succession.
Ronaldo, who missed a penalty minutes before, scored his goal on a tricky finish from close range on 64 minutes, and Bale scored a similar effort from about the same distance after a cushioned chip from Benzema.
Substitute Jese then stepped up four minutes from time, pouncing on a deflection and slotting past Sergio Rico to wrap up the points for the Zinedine Zidane's men.
Late goals from John Guidetti and Hugo Mallo gave Celta Vigo a 2-0 win at hapless Valencia to pile more misery on coach Gary Neville, who was the subject of angry chants by the Mestalla crowd.
Valencia fell behind after 80 minutes as Guidetti latched onto an audacious back-heel by Fabian Orellana to lash home.
Five minutes later, captain Mallo finished off the hosts, coasting down the right-hand side and cutting inside to beat goalkeeper Mat Ryan at the near post.
As the whistle approached, furious Valencia fans turned their anger on Neville, chanting "Gary go now."
Goals from Pape Diop and substitute Felipe Caicedo saw Espanyol come from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 and move seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Javier Eraso had given the Basques the lead after 20 minutes by following up his shot on the rebound after Pau Lopez had parried.
Constantin Galca's side got the equaliser they deserved in the 54th minute, Diop rising to meet a corner and heading home.
They took the lead for the first time in the game just three minutes later. Gerard Moreno raced forward on the counter and spotted Caicedo on the edge of the area, the Ecuadorian controlling the ball and beating a defender before lashing into the net, making his mark on the game just four minutes after coming off the bench to replace Asensio.
No comments:
Post a Comment