Real Madrid 4-1 Getafe

Laporan Pertandingan: Real Madrid 4-1 Getafe 

Real Madrid sukses melibas Getafe lewat skor telak 4-1, dalam duel bertajuk Derby "minor" Madrid, pada jornada 14 La Liga Spanyol, Sabtu (5/12) malam WIB.

Keunggulan Madrid diraih berkat dua gol Karim Benzema, serta masing-masing satu dari Gareth Bale dan Cristiano Ronaldo. Sementara Getafe membalas satu melalui lesakan Alexis Ruano Delgado.

Babak Pertama

Paruh pertama berjalan sesuai prediksi, dengan Real Madrid sukses menguasai jalannya pertandingan secara mutlak. Perpaduan Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, dan Karim Benzema, benar-benar membuat lini pertahanan Getafe kelimpungan sejak sepakan mula dilakukan.

Tak pelak El Real sudah menggenggam keunggulan ketika pertandingan baru berjalan empat menit saja. Perpaduan apik antara Lucas Vazquez dan Pepe yang diakhir dengan sodoran bola ke Benzema, dimaksimalkan bomber internasional Prancis itu lewat sepakan voli cantik. Gol! Madrid unggul 1-0.

Bombardir terus dilancarkan pasca unggul 1-0 hingga di menit ke-16, Madrid berhasil menggandakan keadaan menjadi 2-0. Menerima sodoran manis Bale, Benzema dengan dingin memaksimalkannya dengan sontekan manis ke pojok kiri gawang Getafe.

Publik Santiago Bernabeu kembali dibuat bersorak pada menit ke-35. Kali ini aktornya adalah Bale, yang dengan mantap melepaskan tembakan kencang ke jala Rene Guaita, menyambut tandukan Ronaldo yang memanfaatkan kemelut di depan gawang. Los Blancos unggul 3-0.

Pesta di babak pertama diakhiri tiga menit berselang, dengan sang mega bintang, Ronaldo, mencatatkan namanya di papan skor. Overlap pemain Portugal itu menyambut umpan terobosan Toni Kroos, diselesaikannya dengan sontekan manis yang menambah keunggulan Madrid menjadi 4-0.

Babak Kedua

Di babak kedua Madrid mengendurkan tempo permainan dan serangannya. Sementara itu Getafe bermain jauh lebih disiplin, dengan mulai berani melancarkan serangan ke lini pertahanan tuan rumah.

Namun hingga 15 menit babak kedua berjalan, tak ada peluang berarti yang Getafe hasilkan pun Madrid. Hingga akhirnya serangan tim tamu jauh lebih hidup, setelah mantan penggawa Los Galaticos, Pedro Leon, masuk di menit ke-62.

Berselang delapan menit sejak dirinya menginjakkan kaki di atas lapangan, Leon langsung menciptakan assist untuk gol Alex Ruano Delgado. Getafe pun memperkecil kedudukan menjadi 4-1.

Sayangnya kebangkitan sesaat Getafe itu tak berlanjut, sehingga kedudukan 4-1 pun bertahan hingga pertandingan usai. Hasil tersebut cukup melambungkan Madrid di posisi kedua klasemen sementara.

Susunan Pemain

Getafe XI (4-2-3-1): Guaita; Suarez, Cala, Alexis, Lago; Wamberto, Lacen; Sarabia, Victor Rodriguez, Lafita; Alvaro Vazquez.
Real Madrid XI (4-2-3-1): Navas; Vazquez, Pepe, Nacho, Danilo; Modric, Kroos; James Rodriguez, Bale, Ronaldo; Benzema.

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Valencia 1-1 Barcelona

Laporan Pertandingan: Valencia 1-1 Barcelona 

Barcelona gagal meraih poin penuh melawan Valencia di Mestalla, Minggu (6/12) dini hari WIB. Luis Suarez sebenarnya mampu membawa Blaugrana unggul duluan, tetapi Santi Mina menjadi penyelamat Los Che dan mengamankan satu poin untuk tuan rumah.
Hasil ini tidak mengubah posisi Barcelona yang ada di puncak klasemen La Liga, tetapi Valencia sukses merangkak naik ke peringkat tujuh.
Babak Pertama
Barcelona langsung mengambil alih kemudi pertandingan sejak peluit dibunyikan. Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, dan Ivan Rakitic berhasil menguasai lapangan tengah Mestalla. Lionel Messi, Neymar, dan Luis Suarez mengoyak pertahanan Valencia sedikit demi sedikit.
Adapun Valencia tampil begitu disiplin dan sabar ketika bertahan. Los Che  sukses menutup ruang tembak Barcelona dengan melakukan  pressing  ketat setiap kali Barcelona masuk ke area pertahanan mereka. Serangan balik tuan rumah juga cukup membahayakan Claudio Bravo.
Di menit 26, Barcelona mendapatkan peluang emas setelah Neymar berhasil memperdaya bek Valencia. Lewat sudut sempit, bintang Brasil itu melakukan dribel dan menusuk ke kotak penalti. Bukannya menembak, ia malah memberikan bola pada Messi. Sayang, sepakan kaki kanan Messi mengarah tepat ke pelukan Jaume Domenech.
Peluang itu seperti membuka keran ancaman Barcelona. Lewat menit 30,  Blaugrana  terus memberikan tekanan. Suarez bahkan mendapat dua peluang lewat umpan akurat Neymar dan Jordi Alba. Sayang, sepakan sang bintang Uruguay masih melebar, sementara satunya mampu diblok oleh Santos.
Barcelona terus menekan hingga menit akhir babak pertama, tetap kedisiplinan Valencia memaksa mereka untuk bungkam dan bermain imbang tanpa gol.
Babak Kedua
Valencia masih mempertahankan kedisiplinannya di paruh kedua. Mereka membiarkan Barcelona terus menyerang, tetapi tidak untuk membiarkan Messi dkk menembus area pertahanan mereka. Beberapa ancaman Suarez dan Neymar bahkan dimentahkan oleh Aymen Abdennour dan Santos sebelum sampai ke hadapan Jaume.
Sepandai-pandainya tupai melompat, sepandai-pandainya Valencia bertahan, akhirnya kebobolan juga di menit 59. Rapatnya pertahanan Valencia berhasil dihantam lewat serangan cepat Barcelona. Lionel Messi melambungkan umpan terobosan kepada Suarez. Berbau offside memang, tetapi sang penyerang sukses membawa bola masuk kotak penalti, lalu menaklukkan Jaume dengan tendangan kaki kanan.
Keunggulan satu gol tersebut sudah jelas belum membuat Barcelona puas, tetapi Valencia juga tidak menurunkan kerapatan pertahanan mereka. Los Che hanya menambahkan tekanan di lini tengah tanpa mengurangi disiplin bertahan. Blaugrana pun tak kunjung menambah gol, sementara Valencia mendapat satu peluang emas, tapi gagal dimanfaatkan oleh De Paul.
Adapun lima menit jelang bubaran, Valencia berhasil menyamakan kedudukan lewat serangan balik. Zakaria Bakkali memberikan umpan jauh pada Paco Alcacer, lalu sang penyerang mengontrol bola, memperdaya duet Javier Mascherano -  Gerard Pique, dan memberikan bola pada Santi Mina. Penyerang muda Spanyol itu dengan cerdas melepaskan tembakan keras ke tiang dekat guna menyamakan kedudukan.
Barcelona coba menggempur di menit-menit akhir pertandingan, mencoba mengunci kemenangan mereka sekali lagi. Namun pertahanan rapat Valencia gagal mereka tembus. Kedua kubu harus puas dengan membawa pulang satu poin.

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Eibar 0-2 Real Madrid

Eibar 0-2 Real Madrid: Bale & Ronaldo net for Blancos

  

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo scored at the end of each half to give Real Madrid a 2-0 victory over Eibar, which moves the Blancos within six points of leaders Barcelona. 
After taking a Clasico beating last weekend and conceding three to Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, Madrid were in need of a response, but laboured to victory against the Basque side with Ronaldo struggling badly in front of goal before he netted a late penalty.

The Portugal star was indecisive when one-on-one with Asier Riesgo in the first half, but Bale gave Madrid the advantage before the break when he headed home a corner from Luka Modric.

Ronaldo wasted another chance when clear on goal after the break, somehow blasting wide, but finally got his name on the scoresheet with eight minutes to play, securing a win that will do little to silence coach Rafael Benitez's detractors.







Eibar threatened a number of times via Sergi Enrich, but the hosts failed to fully test Keylor Navas and were consigned to a first home defeat in five.

Indeed, Enrich had the game's first opportunity, but his deflected 25-yarder was comfortable for Navas.

Ronaldo ought to have broken the deadlock as the visitors went straight up the other end, but Riesgo smothered his effort one-on-one, with Mateo Kovacic wildly blasting the rebound over the crossbar.

Danilo curled a weak shot from the left-hand side of the area that did little to worry Riesgo and Eibar were giving as good as they got, Takashi Inui cutting inside from the left and drawing a save from Navas, who did well to quickly get back to his feet and beat Enrich to the rebound.

Madrid eventually went a goal up shortly before the half-time whistle. Modric worked a short corner with James Rodriguez to work space for a whipped cross and Bale beat his marker in the air before heading home his third La Liga goal of the season.

Bale nearly doubled the lead barely a minute later when he superbly controlled a long pass before unleashing a low shot toward the far corner, only for Riesgo to deny him with a smart save.

Enrich remained fiercely committed up top for Eibar and had a chance as he got ahead of Pepe shortly after the restart, but he could not keep his effort down under pressure, with centre-back Aleksandar Pantic also turning the home team's next chance off target.

Ronaldo felt he should have been awarded a penalty after a challenge from David Junca, but referee Jesus Gil waved play on and the Portugal star's frustrating game went on as Lucas sent him running through on goal, but he could only fire into the side netting from a narrow angle.

But Ronaldo was finally able to celebrate after he rolled home from the spot after Lucas was felled, his 234th La Liga goal drawing him into joint-third with Madrid legend Hugo Sanchez.

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Barcelona 4-0 Real Sociedad

Barcelona 4-0 Real Sociedad: Neymar nets twice in easy win

  

Neymar scored twice to lead Barcelona to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on Saturday.

David Moyes recorded a memorable 1-0 win over the champions last season but his successor as head coach, Eusebio Sacristan, a former Barca midfielder, endured an unhappy return to Camp Nou against the league leaders.

Neymar finished a fine team move to open the scoring on 22 minutes before another superb Luis Suarez volley made it 2-0 just before half-time, just as Sociedad had begun to threaten.

Barca made it three with Neymar's second early in the second half as the Catalans moved into cruise control and Lionel Messi grabbed a late fourth, with Claudio Bravo largely a spectator throughout the 90 minutes.

The victory puts more pressure on Real Madrid, with Rafael Benitez's side now nine points behind Barca ahead of their trip to Eibar on Sunday, while Sociedad remain just two points outside the bottom three.

Geronimo Rulli raced out sharply to block Suarez's run after Neymar's fine through ball as Barca began firmly on the front foot.

Rulli then snatched the ball superbly from the feet of Neymar as he raced onto Messi's pass before Andres Iniesta headed against the base of the post from 12 yards just two minutes later following a fine Suarez cross.

Sergio Canales blazed a half-volley high and wide from 25 yards out at the end of a rare Sociedad attack but Barca broke the deadlock with 22 minutes played - and in some style.







Messi controlled and flicked the ball into Dani Alves' path brilliantly, and the full-back's low cross was met by Neymar, who fired first time into the top corner as he raced into the penalty area.

Sociedad grew into the half but were unable to create any chances for a leveller and Suarez made it 2-0 just before the break when he met another Alves cross with a stunning volley which flew into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.

The game was ended as a contest just seven minutes after the break. Jeremy Mathieu raced in behind down the left following Iniesta's pass and squared the ball for Neymar, who was left with a simple finish from close range.

Messi, making his 600th career appearance, volleyed just wide of the near post after being teed up by Neymar, and Rulli clutched the ball gratefully to his chest when the Argentina star shot straight down the middle following a combination with the same team-mate a minute later.

Sociedad pushed for a way back into the match as Barca took their foot off the gas but full-back Yuri lashed into the side-netting when presented with their best opening to the left of the penalty area.

Bruma caused some problems as a late substitute, firing just wide from 18 yards before cutting inside Gerard Pique and forcing Bravo into a brilliant point-blank stop, but Messi came close a minute later when he curled a shot onto the crossbar from just inside the box.

Messi finally got in on the act in stoppage time. Neymar skipped inside from the right and played a one-two with Suarez before squaring the ball to an unmarked Messi at the far post, and he tapped home.

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Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona

Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona: Suarez scores twice in Clasico battering 

Barcelona romped to a dominant Clasico triumph on Saturday, as two goals from Luis Suarez inspired his club to a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Rafael Benitez had vowed to attack the Liga leaders and he named Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez in his starting lineup, but it was Barca which took the lead when Suarez fired beyond Keylor Navas, with the returning Lionel Messi watching from the bench.
Neymar made it 2-0 shortly before the break and a stunning goal from Andres Iniesta put the champions firmly in charge early in the second period, before Suarez's delicate finish made it four after Messi – who came on in the 55th minute – had fed Jordi Alba.
Madrid's players never looked comfortable in Benitez's deep-lying setup and the front three were isolated throughout, though Claudio Bravo denied Cristiano Ronaldo superbly late on.
The result means Barca is now six points clear of Madrid at the top of the table and piles further pressure on Benitez ahead of a crucial few weeks before the winter break.
After a slow opening it was Neymar who missed the first good chance, blasting over the bar from the edge of the area after Suarez had teed him up following Alba's cross.
Barca was in front with 11 minutes on the clock. Sergi Roberto burst through the heart of midfield and, as Sergio Ramos pushed up to close him down, he slipped the ball through to Suarez who bent a low shot past Navas and into the bottom corner.
Neymar brought a good save from Navas with a free kick before Bravo denied James Rodriguez low to his left after Luka Modric set him up 20 yards out, but Barca doubled its advantage just six minutes before the break.
Iniesta was granted far too much time and space in the final third and a delicate chipped pass allowed Neymar to spring the offside trap and squeeze the ball under Navas at the near post.
Barca almost made it three just before halftime. Marcelo recovered superbly to head the ball off the line after Neymar had combined brilliantly with Suarez.
Madrid came flying out of the traps in the second half and Marcelo should have done much better when he fired into the side-netting after running clean through down the left.
Bravo turned a James shot around the post but Madrid was cut apart again on 53 minutes as Barcelona bagged a third. Iniesta, once more given the freedom of the final third, passed in to Neymar and, after the Brazilian backheeled into his path, fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Benitez threw on Dani Carvajal and Isco and the fullback came close to a goal as he scuffed a shot narrowly wide, before Raphael Varane headed straight at Bravo from close range.
Gareth Bale bent a fine pass to Ronaldo on the break but Navas stood up well to deny the Portugal captain's lofted effort, and Barca had a fourth just six minutes later. Alba touched Messi's pass on to Suarez, who clipped a finish beyond Navas and into the far corner without a Madrid defender in sight.
Bravo saved superbly to keep out Ronaldo's header and Madrid's evening went from bad to worse when substitute Isco was sent off for kicking Alba as he ran clear in the closing minutes, allowing Barca to ease to an emphatic victory.

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Barcelona 3-0 Villarreal

Barcelona 3-0 Villarreal: Neymar hits second-half double 

Neymar and Luis Suarez made light of Lionel Messi's absence once again by inspiring Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Villarreal with three second-half goals.

Usually the supporting cast to the Argentine in the Barca front three, Neymar and Suarez have been in irresistible form since Messi picked up a knee injury last month.

And the deadly duo were at it again at Camp Nou on Sunday, scoring once each before Neymar grabbed a spectacular third to move Luis Enrique's side at least temporarily three points clear of Real Madrid.

Their title rivals face Sevilla away from home on Sunday evening.

Only Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid had conceded fewer league goals this season than Villarreal prior to kick-off, and Marcelino's men showed plenty of gritty defensive organisation in the first half to keep Barca at bay.







But, somewhat inevitably, Neymar and Suarez came to the fore after the break, with the former breaking the deadlock after an hour with an unerring finish before the latter made sure of the points from the penalty spot nine minutes later.

Neymar then capped off the convincing win with a brilliant flick and volley from a Suarez pass.

After a quiet start, Barca gradually wrested control away from a confident Villarreal and Dani Alves saw a well-struck volley deflected wide for a corner in the 18th minute as the pressure on the visitors' goal began to mount.

Jeremy Mathieu was next to go close when a lightning counter from Barca ended with Suarez slipping a pass into the path of the marauding French defender, only for his powerful low shot to be well saved from Alphonse Areola.

But for all their territorial dominance, Luis Enrique's team had Claudio Bravo to thank for keeping them level at half-time when the Chilean made a superb save from Samu Castillejo's close-range effort just before the break.

Both Suarez and Neymar were cautioned for dissent shortly after the restart as Barca's frustrations grew, before Alves forced Areola into action once again from Neymar's pinpoint cross.

The hosts finally took the lead on the hour mark and it was Neymar who made the breakthrough.
Sergio Busquets intercepted a wayward pass around 40 yards from goal before feeding the Brazilian, who took one touch before coolly slotting his 10th league goal of the season beyond Areola at the goalkeeper's near post.

Suarez got in on the act soon after. Munir El Haddadi was crudely brought down in the area by Jaume Costa and Neymar unselfishly opted to hand penalty duties to his team-mate, who sent Areola the wrong way for his sixth goal in his last four appearances.

But Neymar saved the best for last. Suarez played a low ball in from the left, and the Brazil captain produced an audacious flick over the head of a hapless Villarreal defender before spinning and volleying past Areola.

The emphatic victory will see Barca go into the eagerly anticipated Clasico against Madrid on November 21 full of confidence.

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Sevilla 3-2 Real Madrid

Sevilla 3-2 Real Madrid: Benitez's men lose ground on Barcelona 

Sevilla inflicted a surprise 3-2 defeat on Real Madrid on Sunday night to leave Barcelona three points clear at the top of La Liga.

Sergio Ramos opened the scoring for Rafa Benitez's men but was later forced off with an injury, and four minutes after his withdrawal Ciro Immobile grabbed an equaliser.

Second-half goals from Ever Banega and Fernando Llorente sealed an important victory for Unai Emery's team, who have endured a mixed start to the campaign, and ensured James Rodriguez's late strike was a mere consolation.

Real Madrid face Barcelona next on November 21 following the international break.

Karim Benzema was absent from the visitors' squad after being charged with conspiracy to blackmail his France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena, but Gareth Bale returned after a calf injury.







Amid early Madrid pressure, Cristiano Ronaldo saw an effort blocked by Mariano before Nacho rattled the woodwork with a shot from outside the area.

As Sevilla sat deep, Benitez's team got their breakthrough courtesy of a sublime Ramos finish midway through the half.

Against his former club, the centre-back produced a stunning bicycle kick to beat Sergio Rico but in doing do appeared to hurt his left shoulder.

Sevilla responded well, with Ramos denying Immobile a clear-cut chance before the Madrid defender was replaced by Raphael Varane.

Four minutes after Ramos' departure, Immobile opened his Sevilla account with an expert finish from a tight angle following a deep corner not dealt with by the Madrid defence.

The Borussia Dortmund loanee's first goal since March sent Sevilla in level at half-time, although the Italian came close to a second before the break when he prodded Benoit Tremoulinas' cross wide.

Both sides had chances in an open start to the second half, with Yevhen Konoplyanka threatening for the hosts and Toni Kroos sending an effort wide for Madrid. Ronaldo too fired wide but Benitez's side generally looked ponderous in the final third. Sevilla were anything but, and took the lead after a stunning passing move was finished off by Banega.

The Argentine was the beneficiary of a quick one-two between Konoplyanka and Immobile, converting the Ukrainian's cross to complete the turnaround.

James was introduced by Benitez in an attempt to salvage something from the game but Ronaldo's decision to shoot from a tight angle instead of play in Luka Modric somewhat typified Madrid's lacklustre attacking play.

Casemiro's header was brilliantly saved by Rico and substitute Llorente then sealed the points when he headed home unmarked inside the area 16 minutes from time.

James made his case to start when Barca visit for El Clasico with a goal deep into stoppage time, but it mattered little as Madrid remain three points off the leaders.

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Real Madrid 3-1 Las Palmas

Laporan Pertandingan: Real Madrid 3-1 Las Palmas

  

Real Madrid kembali menjadi penguasa tunggal klasemen La Liga Spanyol setelah mengakhiri perlawanan Las Palmas 3-1 pada jornada sepuluh, Sabtu (31/10).
Tampil di Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid tak banyak menebar ancaman meski menorehkan tiga gol melalui Isco di awal babak pertama, kemudian Cristiano Ronaldo dan Jese Rodriguez memastikan tiga angka bagi tuan rumah. Las Palmas mendapat gol konsolasi lewat torehan Hernan di menit 38.
Performa Madrid yang tidak ngotot di babak kedua membuat tak ada tambahan gol selepas periode pertama berakhir.
Babak pertama
Tak butuh waktu yang lama bagi Real Madrid untuk menjebol gawang Las Palmas. Empat menit setelah wasit meniup peluit kick-off, Los Merengues mendapat gol pertama. Berawal dari clearance tidak sempurna Javi Varas di sisi sayap kanan Madrid, Casemiro memanfaatkan kesalahan tersebut dan memanjakan Isco dengan umpan matang. Eks pemain Malaga pun melepaskan tembakan kaki kiri yang berakhir di gawang tim tamu.
Seperti dugaan, Madrid menguasai bola dan akhirnya menggandakan keunggulan mereka hanya berselang sepuluh menit kemudian.
Marcelo ikut membantu serangan dari sektor kiri dan mengirim crossing ke area penalti, di mana Ronaldo tanpa kesulitan menanduk bola untuk mengubah skor menjadi 2-0.
Skuat Rafael Benitez terus menekan demi menambah pundi gol, namun Javi Varas melakukan dua penyelamatan gemilang untuk menggagalkan kesempatan Madrid memperlebar jarak.
Las Palmas berhasil memperkecil ketinggalan di menit 38. Diawali corner El Zhar, Hernan melompat tinggi untuk kemudian menyundul bola ke gawang Casilla.
Namun skor 2-1 tak bertahan lama karena tuan rumah kembali menjauh sesaat sebelum turun minum. Umpan matang Toni Kroos berhasil dimaksimalkan Jese Rodriguez.
Babak kedua 
Las Palmas tampil lebih baik setelah jeda dengan lebih banyak penguasai bola dibandingkan Los Blancos. Tapi hingga satu jam laga berjalan tidak ada ancaman berarti dilakukan kedua tim.
Baru di menit 62 suporter Madrid kembali bergemuruh menyambut gol. Sayang, gol kedua Ronaldo di laga ini tidak disahkan karena ia lebih dulu terperangkap off-side. Bendera off-side dari hakim garis sekaligus mengakhiri selebrasi sesaat para pemain Los Galacticos.
Skor 2-1 tampaknya membuat Madrid nyaman dengan tidak ngotot mencari gol tambahan di babak kedua.
Tak ada peluang berarti dari kedua tim hingga wasit meniup peluit panjang tanda berakhirnya laga. Kendati begitu, Madrid kembali bercokol sebagai penguasa tunggal klasemen La Liga dengan 24 poin dari sepuluh pertandingan, unggul tiga dari Barcelona yang baru memainkan sembilan laga.
Susunan pemain
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casilla; Danilo, Nacho, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Jese, Isco, Ronaldo
Las Palmas (4-3-3): Javi Varas; David Simon, Aythami, Bigas, Garrido; Hernan, Roque, Vicente; El Zhar, Viera, Willian Jose.

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Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Laporan Pertandingan: Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Atletico Madrid

 

Skuat asuhan Diego Simeone membuang peluang untuk menduduki posisi pertama klasemen sementara La Liga setelah ditahan imbang Deportivo La Coruna.
Babak Pertama

Deportivo La Coruna mengawali pertandingan dengan agresif, tetapi tim tamu yang pertama kali mendapatkan peluang ketika tembakan Jackson Martinez dihadang Sidnei,

Tuan rumah tampak mulai mengandalkan serangan balik untuk membuat skuat asuhan Diego Simeone frustrasi, dan lini pertahanan mereka cukup nyaman hingga kebuntuan pecah.

Tiago mampu menemukan ruang kosong untuk melepaskan tembakan yang tidak bisa digapai oleh kiper German Lux.

Atletico nyaris menggandakan keunggulan sebelum jeda seandainya tandukan Diego Godin tidak menerpa mistar usai menyambut umpan tendangan penjuru.
Babak Kedua
Usai jeda, La Coruna tampil lebih berani untuk mengejar ketertinggalan dan mereka mampu memaksa Jan Oblak melakukan penyelamatan pertama di laga ini ketika menggagalkan tembakan Federico Cartabia.
Setelah itu, Deportivo terus memberi tekanan pada Atletico yang tampak lebih ingin mempertahankan keunggulan satu gol hingga pertandingan usai.
Bagaimanapun juga, kesalahan Jose Gimenez membawa petaka, Lucas mencuri bola dari sang bek sebelum melepaskan tembakan terukur ke pojok bawah untuk menyamakan kedudukan.
Tim tamu keluar menyerang di sisa waktu yang ada untuk mencari gol penentu kemenangan, tetapi justru Deportivo yang nyaris membungkus poin penuh ketika tendangan Faycal Fajr menghantam mistar di menit-menit akhir.

Susunan Pemain

Deportivo La Coruna: Lux; Laure, Lopo, Sidnei, F.Navarro; Borges, Mosquera; Cartabia, Jonás Gutiérrez, Fayçal Fajr; Lucas

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Godín, Giménez, Filipe; Koke, Gabi, Tiago, Carrasco; Griezmann, Jackson

 

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Getafe 0-2 Barcelona

Laporan Pertandingan: Getafe 0-2 Barcelona

 

Barcelona terus menempel Real Madrid di puncak klasemen sementara La Liga usai membekap Getafe dengan skor 2-0.
Babak Pertama
Barcelona tidak membuang waktu untuk melakukan tekanan meski bertindak sebagai tim tamu. Neymar mampu menembus pertahanan Getafe pada menit pertama sebelum mengirim umpan kepada Munir, tetapi sayang tembakannya masih melenceng dari sasaran.
Getafe mencuri peluang mencetak gol pada menit ke-13, ketika Scepovic mendapatkan ruang tembak setelah mendapatkan bola dari Victor Rodriguez tetapi peluang itu juga sia-sia karena penyelesaian yang tidak akurat.
Neymar kemudian kembali menebar ancaman dengan dribelnya yang menawan. Ia menembus penjagaan dan menyodorkan bola ke Luis Suarez tetapi eks striker Liverpool itu kehilangan momentum dan gagal melepaskan tembakan.
Namun, kombinasi trio Neymar, Sergi Roberto dan Suarez akhirnya memecah kebuntuan ketika laga menyisakan delapan menit. Umpan silang Neymar diteruskan dengan cerdik oleh Sergi ke jalur Suarez, yang kemudian berhasil menaklukkan Guaita dalam situasi satu lawan satu.
Gol pemain asal Uruguay tersebut akhirnya menjadi gol semata wayang pada paruh pertama pertandingan ini.
Babak Kedua
Blaugrana hanya membutuhkan tujuh menit untuk menjebol gawang Getafe usai turun minum melalui sontekan Munir, tetapi wasit menganulirnya karena ia sudah berada dalam posisi offside ketika menerima umpan dari Rakitic.
Gol kembali lahir pada menit ke-58, Neymar melepaskan tendangan voli menawan memanfaatkan umpan Sergi Roberto, dan kali ini gol tersebut disahkan wasit sehingga membuat skor berubah menjadi 2-0.
Skuat asuhan Luis Enrique tetap mendominasi permainan meski unggul tetapi dengan lebih tidak terburu-buru merangsek masuk ke pertahanan lawan. Gol ketiga nyaris terjadi setelah Neymar memberi umpan cerdik yang disambut oleh Jordi Alba, tetapi sayang kiper Guaita tampil cekatan.
Hingga pertandingan berakhir, Barcelona tetap memegang kendali permainan dan menjaga keunggulan dua gol atas tuan rumah Getafe.
Susunan Pemain

Getafe: Guaita; Damián, Vergini, Alexis, Lago; Juan Rodríguez, Lacen; Pedro León, Sarabia, Víctor; Scepovic

Barcelona: Bravo; Dani Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Rakitic; Munir, Neymar, Suarez

 

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Celta Vigo 1-3 Real Madrid

Laporan Pertandingan: Celta Vigo 1-3 Real Madrid     

Real Madrid resmi menjadi pimpinan klasemen La Liga Spanyol usai menumbangkan rival terdekat mereka, Celta Vigo, di Balaidos, Sabtu (24/10).
Gol Marcelo di pengujung laga memupus harapan Celta memetik satu angka setelah Nolito memperkecil ketinggalan menjadi 2-1 lima menit sebelum peluit panjang. Los Merengues unggul dua gol melalui Cristiano Ronaldo dan Danilo di babak pertama, dimana Keylor Navas tampil gemilang.
Simak jalannya pertandingan berikut ini.
Babak pertama
Di tengah lapangan yang kurang kondusif, Los Merengues mencuri gol lebih dulu ketika pertandingan berjalan delapan menit. Berawal dari pergerakan Lucas Vaszquez dari sisi kiri dan mengirim umpan melewati Jonny untuk Cristiano Ronaldo. Kapten timnas Portugal tak menemui banyak kesulitan untuk melesakkan si kulit bundar ke pojok kanan gawang.
Celta bergerak mencari penyeimbang. Sepuluh menit berselang, Orellana melewati lini belakang dan melepskan tendangan voli yang diarahkan ke sudut atas, tapi Keylor Navas menyelamatkan gawang Madrid.
Di tengah upaya tuan rumah menyeimbangkan kedudukan, Madrid justru menggandakan gol. Danilo mencetak gol pertamanya untuk tim tamu usai mendapatkan assist menawan dari Jese Rodriguez.
Celta terus menekan untuk mendapatkan gol, tapi penampilan Navas di bawah mistar membuat kedudukan 2-0 beryahan sampai jeda.
Babak kedua
Orellana menyia-nyiakan sebuah peluang memperkecil ketinggalan di awal babak kedua. Nolito menguasai bola di sisi kiri dan menggiring ke dekat gawang sebelum memberikan umpan kepada rekan setimnya. Sayang sepakan Orellana masih melambung di atas mistar.
Tak lama kemudian, Celta harus tampil dengan sepuluh pemain setelah Cabral mendapat kartu merah. Ini terjadi setelah sebelumnya Pabl Hernandez mendapat kartu kuning usai melanggar Jese dan bek Celta berusaha mengajukan komplain kepada wasit. Pemimpin pertandingan justru memberi Cabral kartu kuning kedua!
Unggul jumlah pemain membuat Madrid makin berbahaya dalam menyerang.  Ronaldo hampir membukukan gol keduanya di laga ini, tapi upayanya digagalkan Sergio.
Namun Celta sendiri tak tinggal diam. Mereka tanpa kenal lelah mencoba mencari celah melalui serangan balik. Usaha pun tak sia-sia. Lima menit jelang laga usai, Nolito menjebol gawang Navas melalui finishing brilian.
Sayang, ambisi menorehkan gol penyeimbang justru membuat pertahanan mereka lengah dan dimanfaatkan Madrid untuk mencetak gol ketiga lewat Marcelo di pengujung laga. Dengan demikian Madrid berhak menjadi penguasa tunggal La Liga dengan 21 poin, unggul tiga dari Celta di urutan dua.
Susunan pemain
Celta Vigo: Sergio; Mallo, Cabral, Gomez, Jonny; Fernandez, Hernandez, Wass; Orellana, Aspas, Nolito
Cadangan : Nestor, Planas, Radoja, Sene, Madinda, Guidetti, Bongonda
Real Madrid: Navas; Danilo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro; Vazquez, Modric, Jese; Ronaldo
Cadangan: Casilla, Nacho, Kovacic, Isco, Llorente, Cheryshev, Mayoral

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Barcelona 3-1 Eibar

Laporan Pertandingan: Barcelona 3-1 Eibar

         
Hatrick Luis Suarez berhasil mempersembahkan Barcelona kemenangan 3-1 atas Eibar, Senin (26/10) dini hari WIB, di Camp Nou. Mereka pun berhasil naik ke peringkat kedua, menempel Real Madrid dengan 21 poin di klasemen sementara La Liga.
Dalam pertandingan ini, Barcelona tampil dominan sejak awal, tetapi mereka malah kecolongan lewat gol cepat Borja. Beruntung, Luis Suarez mampu menyamakan kedudukan sebelum jeda turun minum.
Blaugrana  ternyata makin gila di babak kedua. Tanpa ampun, mereka lebih intens menggempur Eibar. Hal tersebut ternyata berbuah manis seiring Suarez mencetak gol kedua dan ketiga dalam pertandingan ini, keduanya berasal dari Neymar.
Jalannya Pertandingan
Secara mengejutkan, Eibar berhasil unggul lebih dulu seiring mereka mencetak gol perdana mereka di Camp Nou. Pertama kalinya sepanjang sejarah sepak bola mereka.
Berawal dari kesalah Bartra yang kehilangan bola, bola berhasil digapai Keko yang lepas dari penjagaan pemain belakang Blaugrana. Bravo mampu menghadangnya, namun bola liar mengarah kepada Borja yang dengan mudah menaklukkan gawang kosong Barcelona.
Barcelona tidak memberikan waktu lama bagi Eibar untuk unggul. Sepuluh menit setelah gol Eibar, yakni menit 21, Barcelona menyamakan kedudukan lewat Luis Suarez. Berawal dari cungkilan manis Busquets kepada Sandro, bola kemudian diarahkan kepada Suarez yang tanpa kesulitan berarti menyarangkan bola ke gawang Eibar.
Dominasi berlanjut. Barcelona menguasai pertandingan sepenuhnya seiring Neymar dan Luis Suarez berkombinasi bersama segenap skuat Barcelona. Meskipun begitu, gol kedua  Blaugrana  baru tercipta di paruh kedua.
Luis Suarez membuat pendukung Barcelona bernafas lega dengan gol keduanya di pertandingan ini. Berawal dari pergerakan cut inside Neymar di sisi kiri, kapten Brazil ini kemudian menyodorkan bola kepada Suarez yang langsung diarahkan ke sudut gawang.
Unggul satu gol atas Eibar, Barcelona menolak untuk berhenti. Mereka terus menggempur pertahanan tamunya itu. Ivan Rakitic nyaris menciptakan gol ketiga, tetapi sepakan sang gelandang meleset tipis dari sasaran.
Malang bagi Barcelona, Javier Mascherano malah dikartu merah di penghujung laga, tetapi  toh  hal tersebut tak terlalu berpengaruh. Barcelona malah menambah keunggulan setelah sang bek Argentina diusir keluar.
Suarez menjadi pencetak gol Blaugrana  seiring ia mencatatkan  hatrick  di pertandingan ini. Gol bermula dari aksi individu Neymar, lalu disambung dengan terobosan manis kepada Suarez di kotak penalti. Sang penyerang Uruguay pun dengan mudah menyepak bola ke gawang Eibar. Keunggulan 3-1 pun bertahan hingga bubaran.

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Atletico Madrid 2-1 Valencia

Laporan Pertandingan: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Valencia     

Atletico Madrid menyegel angka penuh dalam laga pekan kesembilan La Liga Spanyol musim ini berkat kemenangan 2-1 atas Valencia di Vicente Calderon, Senin (26/10) dini hari WIB.
Kemenangan tersebut mengantarkan Los Rojiblancos naik ke urutan ketiga klasemen sementara, sedangkan bagi Los Che mereka harus tertahan di peringkat ke-12.
Serangan demi serangan dilancarkan kedua kesebelasan, namun Atletico yang mampu membuka keunggulan terlebih dahulu lewat kontribusi Jackson Martinez di menit ke-32.
Momentum tersebut dimaksimalkan pasukan Diego Simeone untuk menggandakan skor delapan menit berselang berkat aksi winger anyar, Yannick-Ferreira Carrasco.
Selepas turun minum, intensitas permainan tak berubah. Hanya saja Valencia lebih berkembang dan berhasil memperkecil ketertinggalan di menit ke-72 lewat eksekusi penalto Paco Alcacer.
Upaya untuk menyamakan kedudukan terus dilakukan skuat arahan Nuno Espirito Santo di sisa waktu paruh kedua, akan tetapi hingga peluit panjang dibunyikan Atletico sukses mempertahankan keunggulan.

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Real Madrid 3-0 Levante

Laporan Pertandingan: Real Madrid 3-0 Levante  

Kabar Cristiano Ronaldo yang resmi menjadi top skor sepanjang masa Real Madrid mewarnai kemenangan 3-0 atas Levante di Santiago Bernabeu, Sabtu (17/10).
Megabintang Los Merengues menyumbang gol kedua bagi timnya, menggenapkan torehannya menjadi 324 untuk menggeser posisi Raul Gonzales sebagai pemain paling subur di klub ibu kota Spanyol.
Simak jalannya pertandingan selengkapnya berikut ini.
Babak pertama
Real Madrid tampil menyerang sejak wasit meniup peluit kick-of. Tapi meski menciptakan sejumlah peluang di depan gawang Levante, Los Merengues harus menunggu hingga menit 28 sebelum menjebol gawang Ruben.
Dimulai dari kecerdikan Marcelo mencuri bola di lini tengah, ia bekerja sama dengan Ronaldo dan mendapatkan kembali bola di kotak penalti, sebelum melesakkannya ke gawang lawan.
Tak lama kemudian, Madrid menggandakan skor. Setelah Navas membuat penyelamatan untuk menjaga keunggulan timnya, Madrid mengubah kedudukan dengan Kroos memberikan umpan kepada Ronaldo yang melepaskan tembakan ke sudur kanan gawang.
Levante berusaha mengejar ketinggalan, tapi ketangguhan Navas di bawah mistar mempertahankan skor 2-0 untuk Madrid bertahan sampai turun minum.
Babak kedua
Di luar dugaan, Levante berhasil menembus lini belakang Madrid dan membuat peluang. Marcelo terpeleset di area terlarang dan Deyverson nyaris menaklukkan Navas diantara tiang, tapi beruntung masih ada Casemiro yang menyelamatkan gawang.
Levante terus menyerang, namun Madrid harus berterima kasih kepada Navas yang tampil gemilang menjaga gawangnya.
Los Blancos barus bisa menambah keunggulan setelah pertandingan melewati 80 menit. Ronaldo memberikan umpan kepada pemain pengganti, Vasquez, yang meneruskannya untuk Jese Rodriguez di sisi kanan. Jese kemudian melepaskan tembakan ke tiang jauh untuk menjauhkan skor menjadi 3-0.
Meski terus menggempur pertahana Levante, Madrid tak dapat menambah keunggulan sehingga skor 3-0 bertahan sampai wasit meniup peluit akhir.
Susunan pemain
Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Kovacic, Isco, Bale, Ronaldo.
Levante: Ruben, Morales, Simao, Feddal, Juanfran, Toño, Casadesus, Jose Mari, Camarasa, Roger, Deyverson.

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Real Sociedad 0-2 Atletico Madrid

Laporan Pertandingan: Real Sociedad 0-2 Atletico Madrid     

Atletico Madrid merangsek ke empat besar setelah memetik kemenangan 2-0 atas Real Sociedad dalam duel penuh drama pada jornada delapan La Liga Spanyol, Minggu (18/10).
Gol super Antoine Griezmann di babak pertama digandakan oleh Yannick Carrasco setelah Sociedad main dengan sepuluh pemain memasuki menit akhir pertandingan usai Diego Reyes mendapat kartun kuning kedua. Tuan rumah harus menyudahi laga dengan sembilan pemain menyusul kartu merah Jonathas lantaran terlibat ketegangan antar pemain.
Babak pertama
Atletico Madrid tak butuh waktu lama untuk menjebol gawang Real Sociedad. Sembilan menit setelah kick-off, skuat Diego Simeone berhasil membuka keunggulan melalui gol super Antoine Griezmann.
Unggul kecepatan, pemain asal Prancis melewati sejumlah defender Sociedad sebelum akhirnya melepaskan tembakan keras yang gagal dibendung kiper.
Peluang menggandakan keunggulan didapat Atletico tak lama kemudian. Sayang, tendangan voli Jackson Martinez masih menyentuh mistar gawang.
Los Rojiblancos secara konsisten menggempur lini belakang tuan rumah. Namun, meski tim menunjukkan kesolidan, tak ada tambahan gol di babak pertama.
Babak kedua
Sociedad nyaris menyamakan kedudukan di awal babak kedua ketika De La Bella mengancam gawang Oblak namun usahanya hanya berbuah tendangan sudut.
Griezmann dkk menikmati penguasaan sepanjang periode kedua, namun tak banyak peluang emas yang mereka ciptakan. Sebaliknya, Sociedad makin bergairah mencari gol penyama kedudukan. Meski demikian, Oblak tidak melakukan banyak penyelamatan di bawah mistar gawang.
Di menit akhir laga justru makin panas, Sociedad harus tampil dengan sepuluh pemain setelah Reyes mendapat kartu kuning kedua di menit 89.
Semenit kemudian, Carrasco menggandakan keunggulan Atletico setelah memaksimalkan umpan matang pemain pengganti, Fernando Torres.
Terjadi ketegangan di area penalti Atletico. Jonathas, yang baru masuk sepuluh menit, mendapat kartu merah setelah terjadi keributan.
Susunan Pemain
Real Sociedad: Rulli; De La Bella, Reyes, Martinez, Zaldua; Illarramendi, Bergara; Vela, Canales, Zurutuza; Agirretxe
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Filipe Luis, Gimenez, Godin; Koke, Tiago, Gabu; Griezmann, Martinez, Correa

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Barcelona 5-2 Rayo Vallecano

Laporan Pertandingan: Barcelona 5-2 Rayo Vallecano     

Sempat diragukan karena bermain tanpa Lionel Messi, Barcelona malah menggila dan menggilas Rayo Vallecano dengan skor telak 5-2, Minggu (18/10) dini hari WIB. Neymar menjadi pahlawan di Camp Nou setelah mencetak empat gol dan mempersembahkan satu assist untuk Luis Suarez.
Babak I
Walau tanpa Lionel Messi, Barcelona tetap tampil dominan ketika mengawali laga kontra Rayo Vallecano. Umpan-umpan pendek khas mereka langsung tersaji di Camp Nou, sembari Ivan Rakitic sesekali mencatatkan satu peluang emas. Sang gelandang Kroasia berhasil masuk ke kotak penalti, tetapi tendangannya mampu ditepis oleh Tono.
Berbeda dengan Barca, Rayo berhasil memaksimalkan peluang pertamanya dalam pertandingan ini. Bebe berhasil lolos dari kawalan dan melepaskan umpan silang ke kotak penalti Barca. Javi Guerro menemukan ruang kosong, lalu sang penyerang melepaskan sepakan voli ke sudut gawang Claudio Bravo. Barca kecolongan ketika laga baru berjalan 15 menit.
Keunggulan Rayo ternyata tidak bertahan lama. Lima menit setelah gol Guerro, Diego Llorente melakukan pelanggaran tidak penting terhadap Neymar di kotak penalti. Penyerang Brasil itu dipercaya jadi algojo dan sukses menyamakan kedudukan lewat titik putih.
Sepuluh menit berselang, Rayo melakukan kesalahan yang nyaris sama. Nacho terlambat melakukan tekel terhadap Neymar sehingga kaki sang bek berbenturan dengan kaki Neymar. Wasit menunjuk titik putih untuk kedua kalinya dan Neymar tidak mengecewakan fans Barcelona. Skor berbalik menjadi 2-1 untuk keunggulan  Blaugrana .
Babak II
Rayo menerapkan skema yang nyaris sama dengan babak pertama. Mereka cenderung menunggu bola memasuki area mereka, lalu memaksimalkan serangan balik. Namun Barcelona sudah belajar dari pengalaman dan efektivitas serangan bali Rayo tidak lagi istimewa. Tim tamu pun cenderung memaksimalkan sepakan jarak jauh walaupun tidak ada yang membuahkan gol.
Sementara itu, kondisi Barcelona terus membaik dan membaik. Dominasi mereka semakin nyata hingga Neymar berhasil mencetak gol ketiganya dalam laga ini. Sang penyerang Brasil kembali mencatatkan namanya di papan skor setelah menyambut bola muntah hasil tendangan Luis Suarez.
Neymar ternyata belum puas dengan  hatrick -nya. Ia malah menambah pundi-pundi gol tak sampai satu menit setelah gol ketiga Barcelona. Kali ini sang penyerang Barcelona mencari celah di kotak penalti, lalu menyelesaikan umpan tarik Suarez ke gawang Tono.
Frustrasi, performa Rayo kian menurun. Pelatih Paco Jemez tidak bisa berbuat banyak dan mencoba melakukan pergantian walau sudah tertinggal tiga gol. Situasi tidak berubah, malah semakin buruk karena Suarez mencetak gol kelima bagi timnya.
Penyerang Uruguay itu bekerja sama dengan Neymar. Kali ini giliran sang penyerang Brasil yang memberikan umpan silang pada Suarez. Mantan penyerang Liverpool itupun langsung melepaskan sepakan voli yang tak mampu dihalau oleh Tono.
Hingga bubaran, dominasi Barcelona terus berlanjut, tetapi Rayo mampu memangkas defisit gol lewat Jozabed Sanchez di menit akhir. Laga pun ditutup dengan hasil akhir 5-2 untuk kemenangan Barcelona. Mereka kini ada di peringkat kedua klasemen sementara La Liga, kalah selisih gol dari Real Madrid yang ada di puncak klasemen.
Susunan Pemain
Barcelona : Bravo; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Mathieu, Alba; Alves, Busquets, Rakitic; Sandro, Suárez, Neymar
Rayo Vallecano : Tono, Nacho, Llorente, Ze, Rat, Jozabed, Trashorras, Lass, Bebe, Ebert, J.Guerra

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Sevilla 2-1 Barcelona

Sevilla 2-1 Barcelona: Champions suffer in Messi's absence   A Lionel Messi-less Barcelona lost for the second time in three league games as they were stunned 2-1 by Sevilla on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Michael Krohn-Dehli and Vicente Iborra in the space of six second-half minutes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan sealed the win, with Neymar's penalty nothing more than a consolation for the champions.
It leaves Luis Enrique with work to do in the weeks and months ahead as talisman Messi recovers from the knee injury he suffered early in Barca's 2-1 win at home to Las Palmas in their previous league game.
Such a significant victory against the title-holders will do much to ease the pressure on Sevilla's under-fire coach Unai Emery, following a poor start to the domestic season and their Champions League hammering at the hands of Juventus in midweek.
Barca came within inches of opening the scoring in the 24th minute, when a Neymar free-kick hit the post, ricocheted off goalkeeper Sergio Rico and rolled across the goal-line before Coke was able to clear.
They hit the woodwork again six minutes before half-time, Luis Suarez striking the top of the bar with a curling effort from outside the area.
The visitors had already gone close on two previous occasions through Neymar and Suarez, but Sevilla more than held their own.
Iborra, Kevin Gameiro and Marco Andreolli all missed presentable chances inside the opening 15 minutes, while a dangerous whipped cross from Benoit Tremoulinas required the intervention of Sergi Roberto to deny the hosts what would have been a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.
With a minute remaining in the first half, Ivan Rakitic's delicate flick released Suarez in on goal, but Tremoulinas was on hand to clear the danger as the Uruguayan hesitated.
Having weathered the storm, Sevilla took the lead seven minutes after the interval as Gameiro's dangerous ball across the face of goal was met at the back post by Krohn-Dehli, who smashed past Claudio Bravo.
The hosts doubled their advantage just six minutes later. Krohn-Dehli received the ball at his feet on the edge of the Barca area, cut inside and delivered a lofted diagonal pass toward the penalty spot, where Iborra, who had managed to stay just onside, rose to head the ball beyond Bravo and into the corner of the net.
Finally jolted back into life, Barca mounted a sustained assault on the Sevilla goal just after the hour mark.
Neymar was denied three times in as many minutes by Rico, but finally got his goal from the penalty spot after Sandro Ramirez's shot hit the arm of Tremoulinas on the very edge of the area.
Sandro went agonisingly close to equalising for the visitors in the 78th minute after meeting a Luis Suarez cross to smash a shot against the crossbar, but consecutive defeats on the road leave Barca struggling to replicate their dominance of last season.

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Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid: Late Vietto goal denies Benitez’s men      Luciano Vietto's first goal for Atletico Madrid secured a 1-1 derby draw seven minutes from time and stopped Real Madrid from moving to the top of La Liga.

Karim Benzema headed his seventh goal in eight appearances this season in the ninth minute and looked to have settled a typically feisty tussle at the Vicente Calderon, where his France international team-mate Antoine Griezmann had a first-half penalty saved for the hosts.

Griezmann partly atoned for that error by having a hand in the equaliser – making enough of a nuisance of himself at the near post for Jackson Martinez's low cross to squirm beyond goalkeeper Keylor Navas for his fellow substitute Vietto to convert from close range.

Vietto's former club Villarreal lost 1-0 to Levante earlier on Sunday, presenting the opportunity for Real to take top spot.

But Rafael Benitez's team could not get over the line and lie a point off the pace in second after extending their winless run at the home of their near neighbours to six matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo headed wide early on from Luca Modric's left-wing cross but it was from the opposite flank that Real took the lead.

Dani Carvajal surged down the wing to supply an excellent cross that Benzema, who had scored just twice in 20 previous appearances against Atleti, planted emphatically past Jan Oblak.

Atleti's response was strong, with a fired-up Angel Correa to the fore.

Making his first Liga start, the midfielder collected an one-two from Oliver Torres to arrow a shot past the post from the right-hand side of the box before sending a thunderous drive wide from 30 yards.

Some ragged Real defending gifted Atleti a golden opportunity to equalise from the spot in the 20th minute – Sergio Ramos briefly looked to have retrieved the situation but took a heavy touch and clattered through Tiago.







But Griezmann's well-struck effort was at a favourable height for Navas, who sprung to his left and pushed the ball to safety.

A well-marshalled Ronaldo swivelled to shoot over after the half-hour mark, while a robust challenge on Carvajal from Oliver Torres forced Real to bring Alvaro Arbeloa on before the break.

Fernando Torres was played in by Correa five minutes into the second period but pulled an angled shot across the face of goal.

The former Liverpool striker then had an attempt blocked before making way for Jackson Martinez in the 64th minute.

A succession of fouls by both teams had badly interrupted the flow of the game by this point, with Real duo Raphael Varane and Casemiro booked either side of Juanfran to make it three yellow cards in as many minutes.

Gareth Bale followed Martinez into the Calderon cauldron, replacing Isco for his first Real action since suffering a calf injury against Shakhtar Donetsk last month.

Navas saved from Martinez in the 74th minute when Vietto found a Real body with his initial shot, while an unusually sporadic display from Ronaldo continued when he cut onto his left foot to find the side netting.

Vietto appeared crestfallen when he wasted a good headed chance in the 81st minute but the Argentine made amends three minutes later – his compatriot Diego Simeone leading the boisterous celebrations from the dugout before Martinez was denied by Navas as the hosts almost snatched another famous triumph.

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Barcelona 4-1 Levante

Barcelona 4-1 Levante: Messi on target but misses penalty as Barca cruise  

The Argentina international displayed mixed form from the penalty spot whilst goals from Marc Bartra and Neymar helped the home side to victory

Second half goals from Marc Bartra, Neymar and Lionel Messi helped Barcelona to a 4-1 La Liga win over Levante at Camp Nou on Sunday, with the Argentine superstar's penalty miss not proving decisive.

The Catalans created numerous chances in the opening 45 minutes, yet sloppy finishing prevented them from opening the scoring.

They more than made up for it after the interval, though, as Bartra, Neymar and Messi all found the net within the space of 11 minutes to effectively put the match to bed.

Victor Casadesus did pull one back for Levante, but they were never able to really threaten Barca in the remainder of the game.

Messi, having already netted from 12 yards, blasted a second penalty over the crossbar in the 75th minute but did double his tally with a trademark finish right at the end.

The victory sees Barcelona leapfrog Real Madrid and three others to the top of the table again with a maximum 12 points from four games.

Barca did not need long to open up the Levante defence as Messi found Munir after a quick combination with Neymar, but the young attacker only hit the side-netting in the sixth minute.

Messi tried his luck himself just minutes later after a mazy dribble, but his first attempt was blocked by a defender, while his second lacked the power to trouble Ruben between the sticks.

The hosts continued to push for the opener as Neymar, Munir and Sandro were all guilty of wasting opportunities.

Barca were fortunate not to concede after they were hit on the counter-attack, with Nabil Ghilas losing his cool after racing past Javier Mascherano, blasting his shot wide from close range.

But the deadlock was finally broken in the 50th minute and, unsurprisingly, Messi was right at the heart of it as he sent in an inch-perfect cross for Bartra and the defender chested it down before tapping home from close range.

In celebration, Bartra held up the shirt of team-mate Rafinha, who suffered a serious knee injury in the midweek Champions League draw at Roma.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors after the opener and Neymar soon made it 2-0. Ruben failed to punch clear Dani Alves' cross and the former Santos man added his name to the scoresheet after his initial attempt was blocked by a defender.

All that was missing for Barca was a goal from Messi, but the 28-year-old righted that wrong at the hour-mark when Neymar earned a penalty after he was brought down by Angel Trujillo, allowing Messi to hammer home from 12 yards.

The away side refused to give up, however, and reduced the deficit in the 65th minute as Marc-Andre ter Stegen misjudged a cross from the left and Casadesus had little trouble finding the empty net.

After earning a second penalty, Messi was unable to hit the target this time but he did clinch his brace in the 90th minute with a crisp low finish into the bottom-left corner to cap a resounding success.

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Real Madrid 1-0 Granada

Real Madrid 1-0 Granada: Karim Benzema header edges Real Madrid past Granada

 

Karim Benzema scored the only goal as Real Madrid were made to sweat to see off a bold Granada side at the Bernabeu.

The Frenchman headed in a cross from Isco nine minutes into the second half to break the deadlock against the dogged Andalusians, who had what looked to be a legitimate goal ruled out for offside and squandered a number of clear scoring chances.
Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to add to the eight goals he had scored in his last two matches and will have to wait at least until Madrid's trip to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday to become the club's all-time top scorer.

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