BARCELONA, Dec 20: Depleted by coronavirus infections, Real Madrid was held 0-0 at home by Cádiz in the Spanish league on Sunday to end its 10-game winning streak across all competitions.
Jorge Molina struck three times in Granada’s 4-1 win over Mallorca to become the oldest player – at 39 years and 241 days – to score a hat trick in the top five European leagues.
The stalemate against Cádiz leaves Madrid six points clear at the top. It came a day after second-place Sevilla cut into Madrid’s lead by beating defending champion Atlético Madrid 2-1.
Carlo Ancelotti was without Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin because of a COVID-19 outbreak.
Modric’s place in the starting 11 is unquestioned while forwards Rodrygo and Asensio share time in Ancelotti’s rotation. Bale and Marcelo, once stars, are rarely used substitutes.
Cádiz, struggling in the relegation zone, frustrated Madrid by aligning nine players in two tight lines in front of its area.
When Madrid did manage to work its way through, goalkeeper Jeremías Ledesma was there to save the visitors.
Madrid went no closer than Federico Valverde’s long-range strike which was parried by Ledesma midway through the first half. Ledesma also did well to block Karim Benzema’s late free kick. Cádiz had upset Madrid last season 1-0.
Molina became the oldest player to score a league hat trick in the top tiers of Spain, England, Germany, Italy and France, according to Opta.
The striker didn’t debut in the first division until he was 29, but he then played long stints with Real Betis and Getafe before joining Granada last season.
“This only gives me even more reason to keep enjoying this sport,” Molina said.
Meanwhile, Iñaki Williams scored a brace and Óscar de Marcos struck the 90th-minute winner to lead Athletic Bilbao to a 3-2 victory over Real Betis, ending an eight-round winless streak for the Basque club.
Betis, which had won three straight in the league, remained in third place. Betis got goals from Nabil Fekir and Juanmi Jiménez, whose 11 goals are only second to Benzema’s 13 in the league.
Darío Poveda headed home Damian Suárez’s cross in stoppage time to snatch Getafe a 1-0 win over Osasuna that lifted it out of the relegation zone. (AP)
