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Spanish football round-up (25 Jan) – Atlético Madrid go seven points clear

La Liga

Atlético Madrid continued their superb run of form by winning twice this week in La Liga, extending their lead at the top of the table to seven points with a game in hand.

On Thursday evening, the league leaders travelled to the Basque Country where they faced Eibar. The Basque side got off to a wonderful start by being awarded a penalty in the 12th minute that was fired in by Dmitrovic.

Eibar managed to hang on to their advantage until the 40th minute, when a moment of clumsiness saw them give away the ball on the edge of their own box. Luis Suarez was quick to capitalise on their errors by scoring the equaliser.

It is fair to say that Eibar would have been delighted to come away with a point and that was almost the case. But in the 89th minute, the Basques gave away a penalty that was flicked in cheekily by Suarez, winning it for Diego Simeone’s side at the death. 

On Sunday night, they were back in action at home to Valencia. After another early scare, which saw Valencia take the lead in the 11th minute through a long range effort from Racic, Atlético did not leave it so late to get back in front this time.

João Félix put his side level still early on in the first half, whilst goals from Suarez and Angel Correa allowed Atlético to finish the match comfortably.

That makes it seven league wins on the trot for the red and whites, who have only lost one game out of their eighteen played this season.

João Félix celebrates his goal against Valencia. (@Atleti / Twitter)

Copa del Rey

Meanwhile, in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night, Real Madrid were stunned by Alcoyano, a small Valencian side that play in Segunda B, whose name has most people asking ‘who?’

The underdogs beat the Spanish giants 2-1 in extra time despite having very little of the ball. A combination of hard work and luck was enough to see Alcoyano through to the next round in what for them will be remembered as a historic victory. 

The champions bounced back, nonetheless, by cruising to a 4-1 victory in La Liga at Alavés on Saturday. Goals from Casemiro, Hazard, and two from Benzema were enough to cancel out their midweek misery and keep them on track in their chase of local rivals Atlético.

Elsewhere, Barcelona picked up three points with a 2-0 win at Elche whilst Sevilla’s 3-0 win over Cadiz took them up into third.

Results

La Liga

Sunday 24 January

Osasuna  3   Granada  1                      

Elche  0   Barcelona  2                    

Celta Vigo  1   Eibar  1                        

Atletico Madrid  3   Valencia  1                    

Saturday 23 January

SD Huesca   0    Villarreal  0                     

Sevilla  3   Cadiz  0                          

Real Sociedad  2   Real Betis  2                   

Alaves  1   Real Madrid  4                

Friday 22 January

Levante  2   Real Valladolid  2          

Thursday 21 January

Valencia  1   Osasuna  1                      

Eibar  1  Atletico Madrid  2         

Wednesday 20 January

Getafe   1   SD Huesca  0                

Real Betis  2   Celta Vigo  1                 

Villarreal  2   Granada  2                    

Tuesday 19 January

Cadiz  2   Levante  2                      

Real Valladolid  2   Elche  2                          

Alaves  1   Sevilla  2             

Copa del Rey

Thursday 21 January

Ibiza  1   Athletic Bilbao  2

Cornellá  0   Barcelona  2

Wednesday 20 January

Córdoba  0   Real Sociedad  2

Alcoyano  2   Real Madrid  1

La Liga Table (25 Jan)
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