Review: Good weekend for Barca in Spain's Matchday 18

Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-07 11:00:36|Editor: ZD
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MADRID, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga to five points over Atletico Madrid and Sevilla and 10 over Real Madrid, who drop to fifth on a good day for the leaders in Spain.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored first half goals to give Barca a 2-0 lead against Getafe, with Messi nipping in between two defenders and the goalkeeper to open the scoring after 20 minutes, while Suarez netted a fine volley in the 39th minute.

Jaime Mata pulled a goal back for Getafe before half-time and the home side might have taken a point if Jorge Molina had not sliced wide after beating Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen midway through the second half.

Under-fire Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari suffered another setback as his side lost 2-0 at home to Real Sociedad.

The visitors had Imanol Alguacil making his second debut in the dugout and took the lead from a third minute Willian Jose penalty after Casemiro was adjudged to have fouled Mikel Merino.

Madrid had two penalty appeals of their own turned down and were reduced to 10 men after two bad challenges from Lucas Vazquez, before Ruben Pardo secured the points for Real Sociedad eight minutes from time.

Vinicius Jr was the standout player for Madrid, for whom Solari's short reign could come to a premature end unless both results and performances improve quickly.

Third-placed Sevilla and second-placed Atletico Madrid played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Wissam Ben Yedder's shot on the turn put Sevilla ahead eight minutes before the break, but a perfectly struck free-kick from Antoine Griezmann on the stroke of half-time ensured a share of the spoils, with Atletico perhaps heading home the happier of the two sides.

Goalkeepers Asier Riesgo and Sergio Asenjo were the standout performers in a 0-0 draw between Eibar and Villarreal. Both sides had decent chances in a game that was more entertaining than the final score suggests.

In Saturday's matches, Alaves moved up to fourth after beating Valencia 2-1 to ensure their best ever first half to a La Liga season.

Dani Parejo opened the scoring with a well-taken free-kick for Valencia after 14 minutes, but Los Che's lead lasted just seven minutes before Borja Baston scrambled the ball home and Tomas Pina scored what turned out to be the winning goal on the stroke of half-time.

Goals in the 73rd and 79th minute saw bottom side Huesca claim their first home win of the campaign as they defeated Real Betis 2-1.

Betis went ahead through Antonio Sanabria's 55th minute penalty for the visitors, but David Ferreiro leveled the scores in the 73rd minute and Cristian Rivera's volley from the edge of the area sent the home fans into raptures.

Alvaro Medran's first minute goal was enough to give Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 win away to Real Valladolid. The Madrid-based side's first away win of the campaign lifts them level on points with Athletic Bilbao, who play away at Celta Vigo on Monday.

Friday night saw Borja Iglesias score a ninth minute goal to give Espanyol a 1-0 home win over Leganes and end a six-game losing streak, while Levante twice battled back to claim a 2-2 draw at home to Girona.

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