Real Madrid’s lead at the top of the La Liga table has been reduced to four points after they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Villarreal while second-placed Sevilla picked up three points at home to Elche.
Los Blancos have lost their cutting edge in recent weeks following the injury to star striker Karim Benzema in a 2-2 draw with Elche. Since then, they have scored only once in three games and despite dominating possession and the shot count against the Yellow Submarine, they just couldn’t find that cutting edge.
Madrid were particularly lacklustre in the first half, but a talking to from head coach Carlo Ancelotti had an effect as they looked livelier after the break. But the game could have been gone by then as Villarreal’s Arnaut Danjuma had hit a post before Alberto Moreno brought a brilliant save from Real keeper Thibaut Courtois.
In a rare appearance for the league leaders, Gareth Bale hit the crossbar early in the second half, and substitute Luka Jovic also rattled the woodwork with an injury-time effort. The latest La Liga 2022 betting odds are still firmly behind Ancelotti’s men, but they’ll be hoping Benzema is back before too long.
Martial stars for Sevilla
He hasn’t been happy at Manchester United for some time, but Anthony Martial has had a smile on his face since his loan move to Sevilla. And he put on a fine show as Los Sevillanos beat Elche, 2-0, to climb to within four points of Real Madrid.
Julen Lopetegui’s side were held at bay by their visitors until the 70th minute when Papu Gomez jinked his way past three defenders before firing a deflected shot home. And five minutes later, Martial – making his home debut for Sevilla – crossed for substitute Rafa Mir to head home the decisive second goal.
Sevilla were in the title race until the last two games of the 2020/21 campaign and they are showing signs that they can last the course again this season.
Atletico’s character change
What has happened to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid? The reigning champions have long been known as the hardest team to score against in European football and the exponents of the clinical 1-0 victory.
But things have changed. Los Rojiblancos’ last four La Liga 2022 results have all yielded four goals or more. A 2-2 draw with Villarreal was followed by a 3-2 victory over Valencia and then a 4-2 setback against Barcelona last week.
This weekend they even surpassed those goal happy games with a dramatic 4-3 win over Getafe, which featured six first-half goals and three penalties. Substitute Mario Hermoso sent the fans at the Wanda Metropolitano wild in the last minute of normal time after he had been brought on following the dismissal of Felipe midway through the second period.
The teams went into half-time all square at 3-3 after a breathless first 45 minutes. Luis Suarez won a penalty for Atleti with just ten minutes on the clock, but his spot kick was saved by Getafe stopper David Soria.
Goals from Angel Correa and Matheus Cunha put Los Rojiblancos firmly in charge, but then it all went pear-shaped in their defence! Simeone’s men conceded two penalties which Enes Unal converted after Borja Mayoral had hauled Getafe back into the game, but Correa bagged his second deep in first-half stoppage-time.
Felipe’s dismissal and Hermoso’s arrival turned the game in Atleti’s favour as the defender popped up with the late winner which keeps Los Rojiblancos in the hunt for a top-four place.
Barca avoid derby defeat in 96th minute
Here at SBOTOP, we predicted a Barcelona win in the Catalan derby, and with their first attack of the game, Xavi’s team went ahead when Pedri scored in the second minute. As the Blaugrana raced out of the blocks, Jordi Alba fired in a low cross which the 19-year-old converted from close range for his first goal of the campaign.
It was looking good for Barca, but Espanyol’s two best players combined to level before the break. Top scorer Raul de Tomas teed up midfield ace Sergi Darder, who scored a beauty, curled in from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom corner.
In the second half, Darder returned the compliment as he sent De Tomas in on goal for his 13th of the campaign. Barcelona head coach Xavi had just brought new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and now his side was chasing the game.
Los Periquitos almost held out for a famous derby win, but Luuk de Jong planted home a 96th-minute header to lift Barca into the top four.
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