La Liga leader FC Barcelona dropped two more points on Saturday when it was held to a 2-2 draw away to Real Betis on Saturday.
Barcelona led through Robert Lewandowski's 39th-minute header, but was pegged back by Giovani Lo Celso's penalty after the video assistant referee (VAR) deemed that Frenkie de Jong had brought down Vitor Roque, who is playing on loan at Betis from Barcelona. Barca coach Hansi Flick was sent off for his protests, but Lo Celso kept calm to beat Inaki Pena.
Ferran Torres looked as if he had won the game in the 82nd minute, while Betis saved a point deep into injury time when Assane Diao scored with a clever back-heel after a pass from Aitor Ruibal.
Barceolna's Lamine Yamal (C) dribbles during a LaLiga match against Real Betis in Sevilla, Spain, December 7, 2024. /CFP
Barceolna's Lamine Yamal (C) dribbles during a LaLiga match against Real Betis in Sevilla, Spain, December 7, 2024. /CFP
The result gave Real Madrid the chance to move within two points of Barca, and after suffering for the opening half-hour of its visit to Girona, once Jude Bellingham put Madrid ahead in the 36th minute, it didn't look back.
Bellingham set up Arda Guler for Madrid's second goal 10 minutes after the break, and Kylian Mbappe added a third with a trademark finish in the 62nd minute.
The bad news for Madrid came when Bellingham asked for a change with an apparent muscle problem just after the hour.
Real Madrid's Judd Bellingham gestures to spectators after being substituted off in a LaLiga match against Girona in Girona, Spain, December 7, 2024. /CFP
Real Madrid's Judd Bellingham gestures to spectators after being substituted off in a LaLiga match against Girona in Girona, Spain, December 7, 2024. /CFP
In other action, Sandro Ramirez scored twice as Las Palmas continues its climb away from the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at home to bottom side Valladolid, who is still looking for a new first-team coach.
Marcos Andre scored for the visitor in the 45th minute to cancel out Sandro's opener, but the Las Palmas forward won the game with a curling shot into the top corner in the 64th minute.
Valencia coach Ruben Baraja is in increasing danger of losing his job after a 1-0 defeat at home to Rayo Vallecano leaves his side rooted second from bottom of the table.
Pathe Ciss scored the only goal of the match after just seven minutes when he out-jumped the defender to head home at the near post.
Valencia pushed for an equalizer in the second half, with substitute Rafa Mir seeing one effort cleared off the line, before heading over the bar in the closing moments of the game.
The round of matches kicked off on Friday night with Celta Vigo winning 2-0 at home to an out-of-sorts Mallorca, who looked as if it hadn't recovered from Tuesday's 5-1 drubbing at home to Barcelona.
Hugo Alvarez put Celta ahead just after the half-hour after a rapid counter-attack ended with his shot taking a slight deflection and going in off the post, and Iago Aspas doubled the lead with a first-time finish in the 82nd minute.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency