Sevilla up to second, Atletico claim much-needed win

MADRID, Spain -- A stunning four-goal blitz in 10 minutes allowed Sevilla to leapfrog Barcelona into second in La Liga on Saturday as Luciano Vietto scored twice in a 4-1 win over Malaga.

Atletico Madrid registered a first win in four games as Saul Niguez's excellent 25-yard strike earned a nervy 1-0 victory against Las Palmas.

However, Atletico end the year in sixth after wins for Villarreal and Real Sociedad at Sporting Gijon and Granada respectively maintained their one-point lead over Diego Simeone's men.

Sevilla edge a point ahead of Barca and to within five of league leaders Real Madrid, who are not in league action this weekend as they face Kashima Antlers in the Club World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday.

Barca, though, can reclaim second when they host Espanyol in Sunday's Catalan derby (1945GMT).

Sevilla killed Malaga off with a series of brilliant first-half team moves as Vietto slotted home Steven N'Zonzi's through ball for the opener before being left with the simplest of tasks to double the lead three minutes later from Vitolo's determined run and cross.

The goals continued to flow as Wissam Ben Yedder added a third before Vitolo made it four before half-time.

Sevilla defender Adil Rami got himself needlessly sent-off for two quickfire bookings just after the hour mark and Sandro Ramirez netted a consolation for Malaga with a fine free-kick.

- Atletico net much-needed win -

Earlier, Atletico ended what coach Diego Simeone called an "extraordinary year" after reaching the Champions League final in May on a high thanks to Niguez's solitary strike.

"Taking into account where we have come from, we have ended an extraordinary year," said Simeone.

"I think any fan of Atletico Madrid has to be proud of a fantastic year and we finished it off with a very solid performance."

Niguez also had the best effort of a bright start from the hosts as he volleyed off the inside of the post on 15 minutes.

Atletico's struggles have coincided with Antoine Griezmann's loss of form as the Frenchman, who finished third in the running for the Ballon d'Or this week, was held scoreless for a ninth consecutive league game.

Las Palmas dominated possession throughout with their neat short-passing but the closest they came to breaking the deadlock before half-time was an outrageous hit from fully 40 yards by centre-back Mauricio Lemos that came back off the crossbar.

The game swung in two moments at either end just two minutes apart at the start of the second-half.

Firstly, Atletico 'keeper Miguel Angel Moya made a vital save from Roque Mesa on his first La Liga start of the season in the absence of the injured Jan Oblak.

Niguez then pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the Las Palmas area to curl home his first league goal of the season.

Villarreal, fresh from beating Atletico 2-0 on Monday, remain a point ahead of last season's Champions League finalists in fourth as goals from Jonathan dos Santos, Nicola Sansone and Alexandre Pato secured a deserved three points in Gijon.

Real Sociedad are just behind Villarreal on goal difference as second-half goals from Jon Bautista and Juanmi sealed a 2-0 victory away to Granada.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Zidane dismisses talk of rift with Ronaldo

DORTMUND, Germany - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane denied on Monday there was a rift between him and Cristiano Ronaldo after the team's talisman appeared to react angrily to being substituted in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Las Palmas.

Ronaldo's response to being taken off in the 72nd minute of the game has been the subject of much attention in the Spanish media in the build up to Tuesday's heavyweight Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.

Zidane, however, said the incident has already been forgotten.

"Everything is normal. Cristiano wasn't the only one angry after the game but it's over now and we are thinking about tomorrow's game," the Frenchman told a news conference on Tuesday.

"I understand the level of attention it received but it is what it is. I took the decision in the best (interests) of the player and that's not going to change anything.

"We have spoken about it. I'm not dumb and he's intelligent. We all have the same objectives, the two of us and the rest of the team."

Ronaldo, the all-time top scorer in the competition with 94 goals, has struggled to regain fitness and form since limping off in the Euro 2016 final with a knee injury.

The prolific Portuguese has averaged over a goal per game in his seven seasons with Real but has made a slow start to his eighth campaign, missing three games with injury and scoring two goals in four appearances, completing 90 minutes twice.

Dortmund coach Tuchel said his team will not be any less wary of Ronaldo in Tuesday's Group F match at Signal Iduna Park.

"You cannot declare that Cristiano Ronaldo is not on form, full stop," Tuchel said.

"Who said Cristiano is out of form? And what does that mean? I can't give a concrete answer but Cristiano is one of the best players in the world. He is an incredible player, a born winner.

"He can be decisive for his team at any moment in a game and that's why we're expecting to face the best Real Madrid side possible. It's a Champions League night in Dortmund and the best players bring their best performances on nights like these."

Real's strong start to the season has been punctured by two consecutive draws, which interrupted a joint La Liga record of 16 straight wins.

Their problems have been worsened by injuries to midfield anchor Casemiro and left back Marcelo, who will both miss the game against Dortmund.

(Editing by Rex Gowar)

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LA LIGA: Unhappy Ronaldo subbed as Madrid held by Las Palmas

MADRID, Spain -- A substituted Cristiano Ronaldo cut a disconsolate figure as Real Madrid conceded a late equalizer to draw 2-2 at Las Palmas on Saturday.

Earlier, Barcelona shrugged off the absence of the injured Lionel Messi to move to within a point of Madrid at the top of the table as Luis Suarez and Neymar were on target in a 5-0 thrashing of Sporting Gijon.

Ronaldo was replaced moments after helping Madrid go 2-1 in front when Karim Benzema slotted home the rebound after the Portuguese's initial effort was saved.

However, he watched on as Sergio Araujo took advantage of some soft Madrid defending to level as the European champions dropped points for the second time in four days.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insisted that, despite a sub-par display, Ronaldo had been replaced to keep him fresh for Tuesday's Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund.

"We have another game on Tuesday and he has to rest too now and again," Zidane told Spanish TV station Movistar.

"It is obvious he always wants to stay on the field, but I have to think about my players and particularly Cristiano.

"I have to take him off sometimes and tonight we did it."

Stung by a poor first-half performance in a 1-1 draw with Villarreal in midweek that snapped a 16-game La Liga winning streak, Madrid pressed high from the off and had 17 shots in a wide open first 45 minutes.

Real made the breakthrough just after the half-hour mark when Javi Varas made a fine save from Nacho's low effort, but Marco Asensio followed up to head into an empty net.

The lead lasted just five minutes, though, as Raphael Varane's poor defensive header fell at the feet of Tana, who slotted past the helpless Kiko Casilla.

Varas denied Ronaldo midway through the second half, but substitute Benzema was on hand to turn home the loose ball.

Ronaldo was then replaced by Lucas Vazquez, but didn't acknowledge Zidane as he sulked off the field.

The three-time World Player of the Year has now completed the 90 minutes just once in Madrid's six La Liga games so far this season.

And Ronaldo's mood worsened when Araujo bundled his way past Casilla and Sergio Ramos to slot home the equaliser five minutes from time.

- Suarez magic -

Earlier, Barca overcame a difficult opening half hour to hit five past 10-man Sporting.

Yet, Barca coach Luis Enrique was far from satisfied with his side's display, particularly early in the second half.

"It is a result that doesn't tell the true story of the game -- 5-0 makes it seem easy and simple and that couldn't be further from the truth," he said.

"We were poor at the start of the second half, we didn't kill the game off and Sporting could have got back into the game."

One moment of Suarez magic turned the game in Barca's favour as he raced onto Arda Turan's through ball and flicked the ball past the onrushing Ivan Cuellar before slotting into an empty net.

A fine team goal put the game beyond Sporting moments later as Neymar freed Sergi Roberto down the right and Rafinha met his cross with a powerful near-post header.

More goals flowed in the final 10 minutes after Alberto Lora dived in on Roberto to leave his side a man light.

Paco Alcacer was denied his first Barca goal when he smashed the ball off the underside of the bar, but Neymar mopped up the rebound to make it 3-0.

Roberto was the provider once more for the fourth as Turan powered home his cross at the back post four minutes later.

Denis Suarez then teed up Neymar to sweep home his second of the game two minutes from time.

Sevilla missed the chance to go level with Madrid at the top as they suffered their first league defeat of the season, losing 3-1 at Athletic Bilbao.

On-loan Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri's first Sevilla goal was in vein as Mikel San Jose, Mikel Balenziaga and Aritz Aduriz's injury time penalty lifted the Basques up to third with a fourth straight win.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LA LIGA: Rakitic header earns Barca victory in Bilbao

BARCELONA - Champions Barcelona came through a gruelling La Liga test at a rainswept San Mames on Sunday, beating Athletic Bilbao 1-0 thanks to Ivan Rakitic's first-half header.

Elsewhere, Las Palmas thrashed Granada 5-1 to top the table with six points from two matches ahead of Barca and Real Madrid on goal difference while Europa League holders Sevilla were held to a goalless draw at Villarreal.

Croatia midfielder Rakitic glanced in Arda Turan's cross to complete a sweeping move started by Luis Suarez and settle the visiting side's nerves after a few early scares, including goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen giving the ball away in his own area.

Barca grew in confidence after the break and stand-in captain Lionel Messi spurned two chances while Suarez also failed to capitalise on a couple of clear opportunities and had a shot cleared off the line in injury time.

Luis Enrique's men almost lived to regret their profligacy as Bilbao's Raul Garcia fired narrowly wide and Iker Muniain had a late penalty appeal turned down.

"I'm happy with the result against an opponent of such magnitude," Luis Enrique told a news conference.

"We could have wrapped the game up earlier but it was a good performance and the three points are well earned."

Luis Enrique had warned that the visit to San Mames was always one of the hardest away trips for Barca and although they looked comfortable at the start, they soon began to struggle with Bilbao's intense pressing and aggression.

Ter Stegen gave the visitors a fright when he played the ball straight to Benat Etxebarria but the keeper got his body in the way of the midfielder's shot and later made saves from Aritz Aduriz and Benat again.

RISKY STYLE

Jordi Alba defended the German's risky style, saying: "I wish all goalkeepers were like him, he's the best in the world with the ball at his feet, he's our goalkeeper for the present and will be for many years to come".

Barca jitters were calmed in the 21st minute when Rakitic was left unmarked in the area to nod Turan's centre into the corner.

Turkey international Turan spurned a chance to double the lead before the break, miskicking at the near post, the first of a series of opportunities that went begging for the champions.

Messi started to make an impact in the second half after a relatively quiet first period but twice missed the target.

The usually prolific Suarez also endured a frustrating evening in front of goal, inexplicably failing to convert the simplest of chances at the end, taking too long to shoot with the net gaping and seeing his shot scrambled off the line.

Las Palmas followed their 4-2 win at Valencia last week with a dominant display against Granada, Nabil El Zhar scoring twice in the 5-1 rout.

Midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng netted for the second game running after joining Las Palmas from AC Milan and dedicated his goal to the victims of last week's earthquake in Italy that has killed at least 290 people.

"I leapt off my seat at the goal because of the quality of the counter attack, the shot and because...he hit it with his heart," said coach Quique Setien.

In Sunday's other game, Alaves drew 0-0 at home to Sporting Gijon.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com