Real Madrid stays in title race as deflected goal gives late win in Vigo
Real Madrid stayed in the La Liga title race on Friday night thanks to a stroke of luck that earned a 2-1 win away to Celta Vigo.
Real Madrid stayed in the La Liga title race on Friday night thanks to a stroke of luck that earned a 2-1 win away to Celta Vigo.
Table-topper Real Madrid will travel to one of La Liga's most hostile grounds on Saturday to play Osasuna in the El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona.
Young striker Gonzalo Garcia scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid kept track of FC Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a comfortable 5-1 home win over Real Betis.
Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo scored to give Real Madrid a 2-1 win away to Alaves, trimming the gap to La Liga leader FC Barcelona to four points.
Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have vital away games which could have a big impact on this season's La Liga title race on the eve of the final international break of 2025.
Barca showed flashes of brilliance on Saturday, but Rayo defended well and have not conceded a goal in their last three meetings with the Catalans.
La Liga has filed a complaint to UEFA about what it believes to be Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches by Manchester City and Paris St-Germain. However, both clubs have vigorously denied the complaints.
The Italian, who had coached Napoli and AC Milan, has agreed to a two-season contract and replaces Jose Bordalas, who left the club last week after just a season working at the Mestalla Stadium.
The club presided over by Chinese businessman Chen Yansheng announced the decision two days after a 2-1 defeat to Alaves left Espanyol 13th in the classification with 40 points from 36 games, in no danger of relegation.
The result means Levante become the first side of the season to be relegated to the second division, given they have an inferior head-to-head goal average with fourth from bottom Cadiz.
