MADRID, Oct 16: Real Madrid won the first “clásico” of the season to take the lead of the Spanish league and hand Barcelona another painful blow three days after the Catalan club’s hopes of advancing in the Champions League all but ended.
Karim Benzema and Federico Valverde scored first-half goals, and Rodrygo added another in second-half stoppage time, as the defending champions won 3-1 on Sunday to move three points ahead of Barcelona. The rivals had entered the match tied on points, with Barcelona ahead on goal difference.
It was Madrid’s sixth win in the last seven “clásicos,” though it had been embarrassed 4-0 the last time the teams met at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium last seasoni.
Sunday’s defeat was another frustrating setback for Barcelona after it was held 3-3 by Inter Milan at home on Wednesday to be virtually eliminated from the Champions League with two rounds left in its group stage.
Barcelona didn’t advance to the knockout stage last season, its first without Lionel Messi, but elimination this time would be extra disappointing considering the club went on a spending spree to boost its squad with players such as Roberto Lewandowski and Raphinha.
Lewandowski, the league’s leading scorer, wasted his greatest chance in the first half, missing high from near the goal line.
Madrid took advantage of Barcelona’s defensive struggles and Benzema opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a shot from inside the area, off the rebound from a save by goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen in a one-on-one situation with Vinícius Júnior. It was Benzema’s first goal in six matches. He also had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half.
Valverde added to the lead with a low shot from just outside the area in the 35th, with Ferran Torres getting a goal back for the visitors in the 83rd.
Substitute Rodrygo sealed the victory for Madrid by converting a penalty kick in stoppage time.
Madrid was still without injured goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, while Barcelona was missing a few players because of injuries, and coach Xavi Hernández had to improvise Jules Koundé as a center back.
Sociedad’s momentum
Real Sociedad won 2-1 at Celta Vigo for its seventh win in a row in all competitions.
Asier Illarramendi and Igor Zubeldia scored a goal in each half for Sociedad, which moved to fourth place.
Midtable Celta, which scored with veteran striker Iago Aspas in the first half, has lost four of its last five games.
Atlético beat Bilbao
Finally free to play as many minutes as his coach wants, Antoine Griezmann scored to help Atlético Madrid win at Athletic Bilbao 1-0 and move ahead of the Basque club into third place in the Spanish league.
Griezmann was set up by Álvaro Morata in the 47th minute. The Spain striker passed back for his unmarked teammate to slot in the winner. Atlético’s defence did the rest by shutting down Bilbao and its Williams brothers, with both Iñaki and Nico unable to create threats with no chance to attack on the break.
Diego Simeone’s side was three points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid before the front-runners clash in Spain’s capital on Sunday.
The loss was just the second for Bilbao, which slipped to fourth place, since Ernesto Valverde returned for his third stint in charge.
Other results
A long-range strike by Nemanja Gudelj proved enough for Sevilla to beat Mallorca 1-0 on the road and get its first victory in three games since Jorge Sampaoli returned as its coach.
Sevilla’s second win in nine rounds got it out of the relegation zone.
Sampaoli, however, said he still had work to do after his scheme to play without a striker failed to create many scoring opportunities.
Edinson Cavani scored his first goals since joining Valencia this summer with his aim set on playing for Uruguay at the World Cup.
The 35-year-old striker was making his fourth appearance for Valencia. He got his first goal from a penalty and added a second with a header. Still, it wasn’t enough to get the win as Elche midfielder Pere Milla also struck twice for a 2-2 draw.
Also, Cristhian Stuani converted a penalty at the end of stoppage time to snatch Girona a 1-1 draw with visiting Cádiz. (AP)
