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La Liga status quo remains

Tuesday, January 26th, 2021 00:00 | By
Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (left) vies for the ball against Valencia’s Spanish midfielder Carlos Soler during their Spanish league match at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on January 24, 2021. Photo/AFP

Madrid, Monday

Atletico Madrid maintained their seven-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga with a 3-1 win at home to Valencia on Sunday night.

Uros Racic put Valencia ahead after 11 minutes with a spectacular left-foot shot, but the lead lasted just 12 minutes before Joao Felix nipped ahead of the defense to prod home Thomas Lemar’s cross.

Valencia’s problems worsened after Mouktar Diakhaby suffered a muscle injury at the start of the second half before Joao Felix set up Luis Suarez for his 12th goal of the season.

Marcos Llorente’s powerful run 20 minutes from time then set up Angel Correa for Atletico’s third to ensure they remain seven points clear of Real Madrid and 10 ahead of Barca with a game still in hand. 

Barcelona were without Lionel Messi but still had enough to beat struggling Elche 2-0 away from home in a game where Frenkie de Jong played a key role.

The Dutch midfielder scored Barca’s first goal in the 39th minute from close range after it looked as if Diego Gonzalez’s attempted clearance was going to end up in his own net. 

De Jong then helped Riqui Puig seal the win with a run and cross for the substitute to head home his first ever goal for the club from close range.

Barca deserved their win against a side that is a clear candidate for relegation, but it was another less than fluid performance from Ronald Koeman’s side.

Osasuna ended a three-month run without a win as they beat Granada 3-1 with two goals from Ante Budimir and a late strike from Jon Moncayola after Luis Suarez had given Granada a lifeline.

Meanwhile, Celta Vigo are still unable to win without talismanic striker and captain Iago Aspas, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at hope to Eibar. 

Brais Mendez put Celta ahead from close range in the first half, only for fit-again Bryan Gil to give the visitors a point with his left-foot volley eight minutes after half-time.

On Saturday, Real Madrid recovered from a difficult fortnight with a comfortable 4-1 win away to Alaves to ruin their rivals’ centenary celebrations.

Without Zinedine Zidane in the dugout after testing positive for the coronavirus, Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 lead before halftime.

Casemiro opened the scoring with a header from a Toni Kroos cross following a corner and Eden Hazard then set up Karim Benzema to make it 2-0 in the 41st minute before scoring himself from another Kroos pass in first-half injury-time.  -Xinhua

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