Like so many occasions this season, when Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior click on for Real Madrid, defenses crumble in opposition to the chief of the Spanish league.
Benzema scored late from an help by Vinicius to grab Madrid a 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, serving to to extend the hole over second-place Sevilla to 9 factors.
Atletico Madrid took a stand in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier than beating Celta Vigo 2-0.
Before kickoff, Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium was lit with the yellow and blue colours of the Ukrainian flag and bore the message “Stop War.” It then flashed the identical message contained in the stadium through the crew introductions.
The soccer group is displaying indicators of solidarity in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Atletico Madrid, Spain, lit its house stadium with the colour of the Ukrainian flag and shouted, “Stop the war (STOP WAR).”#Ukraine #StopWar pic.twitter.com/E4XpskUjFU
— Miranda h (@h_moonee) February 26, 2022
Also within the Spanish capital, the stands of Rayo’s Vallecas Stadium displayed indicators in opposition to the battle with a Ukrainian flag hung by supporters.
The Spanish league included the message “NO A LA GUERRA” (“No to the War”) subsequent to the rating on the prime of the display screen of all televised broadcasts of Spain’s first- and second-division league video games this weekend.
Spain’s soccer federation stated Saturday that six Spanish teaching workers — together with Lluis Cortes, coach of the Ukraine girls’s nationwide crew — and one participant, Dnipro ahead Marc Gual, have been efficiently evacuated from Ukraine.
BENZEMA’S WINNER
Benzema and Vinicius lastly unlocked Rayo’s protection within the 83rd minute when a passing change inside a packed space between the strike companions left the France striker clear to attain the winner.
“(Benzema and Vinicius) have been playing together for four years and, being the great players they are, they understand one another to perfection on the field,” stated Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made two large saves to keep up the stalemate till Benzema broke by way of.
Played clear by Benzema’s brief throughball, Vinicius generously squared the ball again to the center of the world after having drawn goalkeeper Luka Zidane off his line. Benzema solely needed to faucet within the ball.
It was Benzema’s league-leading nineteenth purpose. He has scored 26 targets in 31 video games throughout all competitions for his membership this marketing campaign. Vinicius, who’s having fun with a breakout marketing campaign at age 21, has added 13 league targets for Carlo Ancelotti’s facet.
Sevilla faces an always-tough derby with third-place Real Betis on Sunday, simply six weeks after their Copa del Rey conflict was marred by a Betis fan hitting a Sevilla participant within the head with a bit of PVC.
On Thursday, Rayo visits Betis aiming to overturn a 2-1 loss within the return leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal.
Madrid, in the meantime, will play Real Sociedad subsequent weekend earlier than it hosts Paris Saint-Germain on March 9 needing to return again from a 1-0 defeat of their Champions League round-of-16 tie.
ANOTHER UNAL BRACE
Playing with 10 males for an hour, Getafe rallied for a 2-2 draw at house with Alaves in a comeback led by Enes Unal’s brace that included an astounding strike from close to the touchline.
After Jorge Cuenca was proven a direct purple for a harmful deal with, Alaves twice went forward with targets by Gonzalo Escalante and Edgar Mendez.
Each time Unal introduced the hosts again, first with a header after which with an excellent strike from a good angle on the best flank. His scorcher screamed over goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco and landed simply contained in the submit within the 72nd.
“That goal goes in once every 50 times, and he pulled it off,” Escalante stated about Unal’s second purpose. “It was a great goal and we have to congratulate him for it.”
Unal has change into the league’s hottest scorer with braces in three of his final 4 matches. After going and not using a purpose in his first 10 video games of the season, the 24-year-old Turkey striker has discovered the web 13 occasions in 15 appearances. His profession excessive for a whole season was eight targets in 2019-20.
LODI LEADS
Renan Lodi scored twice from two assists by Geoffrey Kondogbia to steer his crew to victory over Celta as Atletico climbed again previous Barcelona into fourth place.
Lodi, who had seen his taking part in time diminished this season, excelled as a left wing again with new signing Reinildo Mandava masking his again as a 3rd center-half.
The Brazilian twice latched on to lengthy passes from Kondogbia to attain within the thirty sixth and sixtieth.
PERFECT RETURN
Valencia’s Gabriel Paulista struck an early purpose from effectively outdoors the world to assist beat Mallorca 1-0 within the defender’s first match after being sidelined for 4 months resulting from a proper hamstring harm.
Mallorca coach Luis Garcia was despatched off within the closing minutes for protesting.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
