La Liga Recap : Week 19
Getafe got the biggest win of their La Liga campaign so far this season after they took down Real Madrid, 1-0, at home on January 2.
The hosts ended the 11-match (15 in all competitions) unbeaten run of the league leaders thanks to a persistent Enes Ünal. The Turkish forward pounced on Éder Militão at the ninth minute, outhustling the Brazilian center half for the lone goal of the match, as the backline, led by goalkeeper David Soria, held firm to take all three points.
The win made Getafe the hottest club right now at La Liga, extending their unbeaten league run to six matches.
This feat is shared by Granada, which were held to a goalless draw by ten-man Elche.
The home side kept its cool despite having Guido Carillo’s 16th-minute strike disallowed by VAR, and both manager Francisco and defender Diego González getting sent off by the referee, the latter being tossed for denying Colombian forward Luis Suárez’s scoring chance.
Sevilla close gap with tight win in Cádiz
Madrid’s loss in Getafe meant that Sevilla inched closer to the leaders with a close 1-0 victory against relegation-threatened Cádiz.
Right winger Lucas Ocampos fired the lone strike at the 58th minute, making no mistake in converting Ivan Rakitić’s feed, to score on a tight angle with his left foot. It was the Argentine’s fifth goal of the season, a mark shared with teammate Rafa Mir.
Julen Lopetegui’s side is now just five points behind his former employers, and with a game on hand, they can go to within two when they host Getafe on January 9.
Villarreal trash Levante to continue streak
Villarreal continued their winning ways into the new year, as they blanked bottom side Levante, 5-0, at El Madrigal.
Gerard Moreno continued his fine form, bagging a brace for the third match running. Boulaye Dia, Pau Torres, and Manu Trigeros were also on the scoresheet, extending their club’s winning run to four.
Levante remained at the foot of the La Liga table, their quest for an elusive win remains.
Atleti turn back Rayo Vallecano with Correa double
Reigning champions Atlético de Madrid opened 2022 with a masterful 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano at Estadio Metropolitano.
Ángel Correa scored on both halves for Diego Simeone’s Colchoneros, who overtook their victims that were a point and a place ahead of them before kickoff.
The Argentine slotted home the opener at the 28th minute, beating Luca Zidane from a tight angle after a scramble near the six-yard box. Eight minutes after the restart, Correa added a second to claim full points.
With the defeat, Rayo saw themselves not just getting leapfrogged by Atleti, but also by Barcelona that had a 1-0 away win opposite Mallorca.
A 44th-minute header by Luuk de Jong lifted Xavi’s spirits after a testy week, which saw their first team decimated by COVID as well as suspensions and other injuries.
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