In the latest round of La Liga games, Real Madrid came from behind to score a late winner against struggling Huesca and climbed to within seven points of leaders Altletico.
Los Rojiblancos have two games in hand, and they play on Monday night at home to Celta Vigo. This was an escape for Los Blancos against a side which could have been out of sight before Raphael Varane popped up to score a brace, and the victory keeps their slim title hopes alive.
The latest La Liga 2021 betting odds back Atleti to win their game and Diego Simeone’s side remains firm favourites for the title, but had Huesca hung on then Los Blancos could have waved their chances goodbye.
Winner: Raphael Varane, Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane’s team had an almighty scare at the El Alcoraz and will be delighted to escape with three points thanks to Varane’s second half double.
After a goalless first half, the hosts stunned Los Blancos minutes into the second, when Javi Galan took a pass from Shinji Okazaki and smashed the ball into the top right corner giving Thibaut Courtois no chance. But when Gaston Silva fouled Marco Asensio in a dangerous position, Karim Benzema’s eyes lit up. The Frenchman’s free kick bounced off the bar and Varane was on hand to nod home.
But it looked like ZZ’s title chasers would have to settle for a point until Toni Kroos won an 83rd minute free kick. The German midfielder took the dead ball kick and Casemiro met it with a firm header, which the keeper parried, and Varane was there to hammer the ball home.
In the absence of Sergio Ramos, Varane had stepped up from the back to save the day for Los Blancos and this was a big three points.
Losers: Huesca
Not only would a victory for Huesca have been the shock of the weekend, it would have taken the basement club to within one point of the safety line, and had they been a little more clinical the hosts could have taken a firm grip on the game before Los Blancos had time to recover.
Two minutes before Galan fired Huesca ahead, Mikel Rico took a pass from Pablo Maffeo and smashed his shot against the crossbar. And with Real rocking at 1-0 down Huesca hit the woodwork again when Rafa Mir fired his effort against the bar.
Even after Los Blancos had equalised Huesca had a great chance to go ahead again when Galan crossed for Mir and this time Courtois made a great save in the bottom right corner.
And Huesca paid a heavy price when they gave away two free kicks in dangerous positions. That’s the way it goes when you’re struggling for points.
Winners: Sevilla
Sevilla climbed up to third place in the league table with a resounding 3-0 win over Getafe thanks to second half goals from Munir, Sergi Gomez and Youssef En-Nesyri.
It was a thoroughly professional performance at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as the hosts had over 75 per cent possession and won the shot count by 17 to five. Head coach Julen Lopetegui will be hopeful of another Champions League finish for Sevilla after four consecutive victories.
Loser: Djene, Getafe
Getafe skipper Djene will be kicking himself though, after he kicked Sevilla’s star man Lucas Ocampos and earned himself a red card with over half an hour to play. The score was 0-0 at the time and Getafe were looking reasonably hopeful of a point, but Sevilla stretched the ten remaining men to submission.
Winners: Alaves
Deportivo Alaves started the weekend in the relegation zone after a run of just one point from four games and they had a crucial test of their resolve with a home match against 16th place Real Valladolid.
Abelardo Fernadez’ team set about their opponents, dominating possession and peppering the Valladolid goal with 20 shots to three and five to one on target. But they had to be patient and wait until midway through the second half before Joselu got on the end of a cross from Martin Aguirregabiria’s cross to win all three points.
This is Alaves’ fifth consecutive season in the Primera Division and now they are in good shape to lengthen their stay at the top table. They climbed three places up to 15th and only three points off the top half of the table while Valladolid dropped to 17th.
Losers: Villarreal
The Yellow Submarine lost ground on the top four after surrendering a two-goal advantage to 19th placed Elche. A first-half double from Gerard Moreno put Villarreal in charge at the break, but Guido Carrillo and Lucas Boye hit back for the strugglers to earn a point.
Gerard’s goals took his season tally to 12 and is still well in the hunt for the Golden Boot, but he would have preferred three points for his team.
With 17 more rounds to play there will be more twists and turns in the title and European races, as well as the scrap to avoid relegation, and we’ll keep the La Liga 2021 news coming, right here at SBOTOP.
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