Barca Blow Three-Goal Lead, Real Reclaim Top Spot
07 November, 2021
Real Madrid reclaimed top spot in LaLiga with a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday evening.
Madrid were on the front foot in the opening exchanges and Toni Kroos eventually gave them the lead in the 14th minute with a volley that goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski could only parry into the top corner after a cut-back by Asensio.
Dimitrievski was keeping Rayo in the game with crucial saves as the hosts were threatening to get the second goal but he was beaten by David Alaba's cross seven minutes before the half-time break that was turned home by Karim Benzema.
The Vallecano shot-stopper denied Asensio the third goal for Madrid with an attempted chip after a through ball by Benzema and again kept out Vinicius Junior in a one-on-one just before the hour-mark.
Asensio had a chance to make it 3-0 in the last 18 minutes after going through inside the box and fired a shot through the legs of Dimitrievski across goal that missed the far post just wide.
Radamel Falcao eventually pulled a goal back for the visitors a minute later with a thumping header inside the box after a cross by Alvaro Garcia.
Rayo were threatening to get the equaliser in the dying minutes as Kroos had to make a goal-line clearance in stoppage time but Madrid held on to go two points clear at the top.
Celta Vigo 3-3 FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona's struggles continued after blowing a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.
The Catalans got the opening goal after just six minutes as Ansu Fati cut in from the flank and curled one into the bottom corner to make it two goals in two games.
The lead was doubled in the 18th minute as Gonzalez did well to pick out Sergio Busquets, who had time and space to find the far corner from the edge of the box.
Barcelona managed to improve that impressive start, with Memphis Depay making it 3-0 on 34 minutes after nodding home a cross from Jordi Alba.
There was some bad news towards the end of the first half when Fati was forced off with an injury and seemingly pulled up with a hamstring issue.
The Spain international was replaced by Alex Balde at the start of the second half while Ronald Araujo came on for Eric Garcia in the defence.
Celta made a good start to the second half when Iago Aspas pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute with a close-range finish after Marc-Andre ter Stegen failed to hold Javier Galan's cross.
The home side made things tense in the 74th minute after former Barcelona striker Nolito pulled another goal back after turning home a cross from Franco Cervi.
However, Celta grabbed the equaliser in the 95th minute as Aspas completed his brace with final kick of the game with an impressive first-time finish from Galan's cross.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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