Tuesday November 26, 2024

Real Madrid come from behind to beat Girona 4-1

Published : 27 Aug 2018, 02:09

  DF-Xinhua Report
File Photo Xinhua.

Real Madrid came back from conceding the opening goal to claim their second win of the season, beating Girona 4-1 in the Montilivi Stadium on Sunday night.

Borja Garcia put Girona ahead with a smart individual goal after 16 minutes, beating Keylor Navas, who retained his place in the side ahead of Thibaut Courtois, but Real Madrid were level in the 39th minute after Sergio Ramos scored from the penalty spot.

Another penalty given for a foul on Asensio allowed Karim Benzema to put Madrid ahead seven minutes after the break and Gareth Bale made it 3-1 just before the hour, before Benzema's second of the night made it 4-1 with 10 minutes remaining.

Sevilla and Villarreal created plenty of chances but failed to finish any of them in an entertaining match which ended 0-0 in the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Wissam Ben Yedder hit the post for Sevilla in the 91st minute, but the game will probably be remembered for a nasty elbow injury suffered by Sevilla captain Sergio Escudero after falling badly.

Saturday saw FC Barcelona maintain their 100 percent start to the season with a narrow 1-0 win away to newly promoted Valladolid thanks to a second half goal from Ousmane Dembele, who did well to finish after a smart knockback from full back Sergi Roberto.

The main talking points from the game were a dreadful playing surface, described as "embarrassing" and "deplorable," by Gerard Pique after the grass, which had only been laid four days previously, lifted up in large chunks.

Valladolid thought they had scored an injury time equalizer through Keko, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) correctly ruled it out for offside.

The VAR also played a starring role in Espanyol's 2-0 win at home to Valencia on Sunday, confirming that Esteban Granero's 62nd minute free kick had crossed the goal-line.

Borja Iglesias scored from a rebound six minutes later to confirm Espanyol's first win of the season.

Atletico Madrid gave a very typical performance with an Antoine Griezmann goal following a corner and several good saves from Jan Oblak giving them a narrow 1-0 at home to a spirited Rayo Vallecano.

Goalkeepers Fernando Pacheco and Pau Lopez were both inspired as Alaves and Betis drew 0-0 to gain their first points of the season after losing their opening matches of the campaign.

Friday saw Getafe defeat Eibar 2-0 with goals from strikers Angel Rodriguez and Jorge Molina.

Meanwhile Nabil El Zhar scored two second half goals to spoil Asier Garitano's return to Leganes' Butarque Stadium as the coach of Real Sociedad.

Real Sociedad went 2-0 up after just 17 minutes through David Zurutuza and Asier Illaramendi, but El Zhar pulled a goal back early in the second half and saved a point for his side with just three minutes remaining.

The round of matches ends on Monday when Athletic Club Bilbao entertain Huesca and Levante play Celta.