Real Sociedad stay top in Spain, while Atletico edge closer and Barca win in style

Source: Xinhua| 2020-11-30 09:17:10|Editor: huaxia

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (2nd R) competes during a Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 29, 2020. (Xinhua)

MADRID, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Real Sociedad remain top of La Liga despite failing to set a club record of seven consecutive wins after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal on Sunday night.

Both goals came from the penalty spot in an entertaining first half, with Gerard Moreno scoring first for Villarreal before Mikel Oyarzabal calmly stroked home after Pau Torres had fouled Robin Le Normand.

The rhythm dropped in the second half as both sides looked tired after Europa League games on Thursday.

FC Barcelona cruised past Osasuna with a 4-0 win in a game that will be remembered for another injury as Clement Lenglet twisted his ankle, but above all for Lionel Messi dedicating his goal - Barca's fourth of the game - by taking his shirt off to reveal a replica of the Newell's Old Boys shirt that Diego Maradona wore for a brief spell in 1993.

Barca opened the scoring thanks to Martin Braithwaite being in the right place after Philippe Coutinho's shot was blocked.

Antoine Griezmann scored a screamer to double Barca's lead before half-time and then played a role as Coutinho made it 3-0 just before the hour. Ousmane Dembele had a goal ruled out for offside, but Messi was not to be denied and the image of his celebration is that one that will go around the world.

Real Madrid's indifferent season continued on Saturday after Zinedine Zidane's side not only lost 2-1 at home to Deportivo Alaves, but also saw Eden Hazard limp off with a thigh injury.

Alaves took the lead in the second minute thanks to a Lucas Perez penalty after Nacho Fernandez had been penalized for handball.

Madrid improved as the half progressed and Alaves keeper Fernando Pacheco saved well from Toni Kroos, before the visitors doubled their lead at the start of the second half when Thibaut Courtois passed straight to Joselu, who put the ball into the empty net.

Alaves could have added more on the break before Casemiro gave Real Madrid hope from close range in the 85th minute and Isco almost saved a point when his 95th minute shot hit the bar.

Atletico Madrid had a stroke of fortune when Toni Lato's own goal 11 minutes from time gave them a 1-0 win away to Valencia to leave them a point behind Real Sociedad.

Atletico had the best of the game but they lacked a finish until Lato's moment of bad luck after he was unsighted after a low cross.

Youssef En-Nesyri's close range 83rd minute goal decided a tight game away to Huesca in Sevilla's favor.

Sevilla had most of the ball but Huesca defended well until the Moroccan's fourth goal of the season gave the visitors all three points to end a week which also saw them reach the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Asier Villalibre's header confirmed Athletic Bilbao's recent improvement as they took the lead away to Getafe after just nine minutes. The home side improved after the break and Angel scored a deserved equalizer 15 minutes from time.

Celta coach Eduardo Coudet enjoyed his first win in charge as his side came back to beat Granada 3-1 after falling behind to a Luis Suarez goal.

Although he didn't score, Celta captain Iago Aspas was the man of the match after helping set up Nolito for Celta's equalizer just two minutes after Suarez's goal, and then providing assists for Baeza to put Celta ahead after 81 minutes and Fran Beltran to confirm three vital points four minutes later.

Elche and Cadiz drew 1-1 in a game between two sides promoted at the end of last season, and the round of matches kicked off on Friday with Real Valladolid and Levante also drawing 1-1 - a result that keeps Levante in the bottom three. Enditem

 

 

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