Sports
Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-0 to level leaders Barca
Fede Valverde and Vinicius Junior strikes helped Real Madrid bounce back from their first defeat since January with a 2-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday in La Liga.
Los Blancos lost in the Champions League at Lille but are still unbeaten in the Spanish top flight and moved level with leaders Barcelona before the Catalans visit Alaves on Sunday.
Valverde’s deflected effort and a rocket from Vinicius allowed Madrid to put a four-point gap between them and their third-placed opponents, who battled well but came up fractionally short in the capital.
Madrid’s victory was marred by a late injury to defender Dani Carvajal, who had to be taken off on a stretcher.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti started Kylian Mbappe after the French striker had recovered from a thigh problem.
The former Paris Saint-Germain striker could only appear from the bench in Madrid’s disappointing midweek display.
Mbappe, whom France have not selected for upcoming Nations League fixtures, was quiet at the Santiago Bernabeu as his team ground out victory with a determined, rather than inspiring, performance.
The forward sent an early volley off-target from Luka Modric’s corner.
Instead it was midfielder powerhouse Valverde who broke the deadlock after 14 minutes.
The Uruguayan’s drive from distance deflected off Villarreal playmaker Alex Baena and arced beyond the reach of goalkeeper Diego Conde.
The visitors, enjoying a strong start to the season under coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, came close when Nicolas Pepe’s header clipped the top of the crossbar. Then Thierno Barry headed over from close range.
Mbappe had one further chance, bursting into the area with his electric pace, but goalkeeper Conde managed to dispossess him with an outstretched leg.
Villarreal appealed for a penalty early in the second half when Aurelien Tchouameni, playing at centre-back, pulled down Barry, but the French striker was offside.
Baena hit the side-netting of Andriy Lunin’s goal with a free-kick, nearly catching out the Ukrainian goalkeeper standing in for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
Vinicius flashed a shot narrowly wide, before his strike partner Mbappe was replaced with 20 minutes to go by Rodrygo Goes.
Brazil striker Vinicius, who is hoping to win a first Ballon d’Or later in October, netted the second with a superb effort from outside the area, which ripped into the top corner.
In stoppage time, Spanish right-back Carvajal suffered an injury while attempting to clear the ball under pressure from Yeremy Pino.
Earlier nine-man Celta Vigo earned a 1-0 win at bottom of the table Las Palmas.
The Canary Islanders were unable to record their first win of the season even after Ilaix Moriba and Iago Aspas’s red cards for Celta, who climbed to ninth thanks to Borja Iglesias’ goal.
Osasuna moved into fifth with a 1-1 draw at Getafe, while Espanyol beat Mallorca 2-1 and Rayo Vallecano won at Valladolid by the same score.
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has clarified that he didn’t intend to offend his player Ademola Lookman.
Gasperini infuriated Lookman after criticising the Nigerian international for taking a penalty in Tuesday night’s home loss to Club Brugge.
The Italian declared that the striker was “one of the worst penalty kick takers” he had ever seen.
But, Lookman responded by labelling his manager’s comment disrespectful.
However, Gasperini clarified his position, saying: “He had an extraordinary impact. My words were never meant to be offensive.”
Gasperini spoke at a press conference on Saturday via TMW.
“Yesterday, in Udinese-Lecce, we saw what could have turned into a global spectacle, but fortunately, the players let it go,” he said.
“I would have liked to see a great player like him [Lookman] make a gesture toward [Charles] De Ketelaere, saying, ‘Come on, take the ball, put it in.
“He could become a penalty taker, adding another scoring ability. But I almost feel like there’s a narrative being pushed that Atalanta are in chaos when the reality is quite different.
“I always speak in front of the whole team, this has never even been an issue within the club.
“The player felt offended, but I never intended to offend anyone. In the end, I think it turned out well because there was no unnecessary drama.
“I also appreciated what happened in the Udinese game, with both the players and the coach. Lookman came on against Brugge in an extraordinary way, and his gesture, even if generous, doesn’t change my opinion,” Gasperini stated.
Former Liverpool man, Didi Hamann has told Arsenal they cannot win titles without a top striker.
Hamann believes that Arsenal’s quest for titles would remain a mirage if they fail to bring in a top striker.
He named Ollie Watkins as another good option the Gunners could have gone for in the winter transfer window.
“I said that before, I don’t see them winning the Premier League or the Champions League unless they sign a centre-forward like Ollie Watkins,” he told Prime Casino.
I don’t know how serious that was, but [Jhon] Duran went to Saudi, so I think it was always unlikely they’re gonna let Watkins go, still being in the Champions League.
“I think the team is well equipped, but the lack of a centre forward is obviously what I think harms their chances,” he added.
Mikel Arteta’s side have also been linked with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Liam Delap and Youssef En-Nesyri.
They are in dire need of a front man to solve their goal-scoring issues.
The Gunners are without a striker for the rest of the season following injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Victory in the FA Cup last week, a win in the Premier League tonight… Brighton are wishing they could play Chelsea every week.
A hugely-impressive performance from the home side who now move up into eighth place, above both Aston Villa and Fulham.
Brighton enjoyed their first home win in six games in the Premier League (D3 L2), while it was their joint-biggest win in the competition over a side starting the day in the fop four, along with a 3-0 win v Arsenal in May 2023 under Roberto De Zerbi.
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