MADRID, Sep 23: Girona routed Mallorca 5-3 to climb to the top of the Spanish league on Saturday ahead of other matches for this round.
Girona moved one point ahead of overnight leader Real Madrid, which visits Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Barcelona can pull level with Girona if it beats Celta Vigo at home later Saturday.
Under coach Michel Sanchez, Girona is the revelation of the season so far. The modest team from Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region has won five straight games since a season-opening draw with Real Sociedad. Mallorca went ahead early through a fourth-minute penalty converted by Vedat Muriqi. But Girona roared back with goals by David Lopez, Artem Dovbyk, Ivan MartĂn, Yangel Herrera and Savio before substitute Abdon Prats reduced the deficit for Mallorca with a late brace.
Bilbao beat Alaves 2-0
Athletic Bilbao defeated Alaves 2-0 in a Basque Country derby on Friday for its fourth Spanish league win of the season.Inaki Williams and Oihan Sancet scored a goal in each half for the visitors, which moved two points behind leader Real Madrid ahead of the weekend matches. Athletic sits in fourth place. (AP)
