Sunday Review: Real Madrid Thrash Villarreal to Go Top Again in Spain
Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Villarreal on Sunday was more evidence that they’ll have no problems scoring enough goals to go all the way in LaLiga this season, even without an established centre-forward, as they reclaimed top spot over Girona. The front three of Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Díaz all got on the scoresheet — joined by Luka Modric — to make it a team total of 38 goals scored in 17 games, as many as any team in LaLiga.
First-half injuries to David Alaba and Ferland Mendy, with Alaba’s looking serious, were the only sour notes on what was a comfortable win under the Santiago Bernabeu’s new closed roof, with next summer’s arrival, Endrick, watching on in the stands.
Bellingham started the show in the 25th minute, heading Modric’s ball past Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen — that’s now an absurd 13 goals in 15 league games for the England star. In the 21st century, only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski — one of the deadliest finishers of the modern era — reached that figure faster. Rodrygo made it 2-0 before half-time. Another player in form, his early-season goal shortage is now long forgotten, with eight scored in his past eight Real Madrid games.
Diaz’s goal to make it 3-0 — after José Luis Morales had pulled a goal back for Villarreal — was the moment of the night, skipping through the visitors’ defence with delicate footwork before a cool finish. Opportunities were limited for the former AC Milan playmaker earlier in the season, but he now has two goals and an assist in his past three league games, and increasingly looks like he has the quality to be a useful player in this squad.
Modric’s reaction to scoring the fourth goal was joyous, perhaps a
Barcelona Manager Xavi Frustrated as Side Draws with Valencia
Barcelona manager Xavi expressed his frustration and disappointment after his team’s 1-1 draw with Valencia, which further widened the gap between them and Girona in LaLiga. Xavi had labeled the match against Valencia as a “final” following consecutive defeats against Girona and Antwerp. The first half ended goalless, with both teams missing opportunities. However, Barcelona improved in the second half, with João Félix scoring the opener. Valencia equalized with a fine finish from Guillamón. Despite creating chances in the final 20 minutes, Barcelona failed to secure a win. Xavi attributed their recent results to the team’s failure to convert their chances. Their next match is against Almeria.
Dortmund’s Title Hopes Fade with Draw Against Augsburg
Borussia Dortmund’s chances of winning the Bundesliga title took a hit with a 1-1 draw against Augsburg. Despite dominating possession and having 24 shots with a 2.78 expected goals (xG), Dortmund failed to secure a victory. The team has been winless in their last five games and currently sits in fifth place in the league. The absence of Jude Bellingham and uninspired performances from Marco Reus and Niclas Füllkrug have contributed to Dortmund’s struggles. Augsburg took the lead, but Dortmund equalized through Donyell Malen. In the final minutes, Augsburg had two golden opportunities to snatch a win, but Dortmund’s goalkeeper made crucial saves. The result leaves Dortmund with a challenging second half of the season.
Lyon Secures Rare Win in Ligue 1
Lyon owner John Textor finally had a reason to celebrate as his team secured a 1-0 victory over Monaco. Lyon, who had only won twice in their previous 15 games, faced a tough challenge against Monaco. The hosts dominated the match, but Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes made several saves to keep his team in the game. Lyon made three substitutions in the 83rd minute, which proved to be decisive. Brazilian winger Jeffinho scored the winning goal on his first touch, assisted by Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Tino Kadewere. Lyon had only five shots, but it was enough to secure the win. The result was a welcome relief for Textor and Lyon fans.
Americans Abroad: Sabbi Shines for Le Havre
Emmanuel Sabbi was the standout performer for Americans Abroad as he scored two goals to help Le Havre defeat Nice 3-1. The victory propelled Le Havre to ninth place in Ligue 1. In England, Chris Richards played the full match for Crystal Palace in their 2-2 draw against Manchester City. In Germany, Gio Reyna featured for Borussia Dortmund in their 1-1 draw against Augsburg, while Kevin Paredes played the final minutes in Wolfsburg’s 1-0 win over Darmstadt. In Spain, Luca de la Torre played a crucial role in Celta Vigo’s 1-0 win over Granada. These performances highlight the growing presence of American players in European leagues.
Luton Town Captain Stable After Cardiac Arrest
Luton Town defender and club captain Tom Lockyer is in stable condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match against Bournemouth. The match was abandoned, and Lockyer received immediate medical attention. He was responsive when taken off the pitch and is currently undergoing further tests in the hospital. The club expressed gratitude to the medical teams involved in his treatment.
Sevilla Sacks Manager Diego Alonso
Sevilla has officially sacked manager Diego Alonso following their 3-0 loss to Getafe. The team’s winless streak in LaLiga led to the decision to relieve Alonso of his duties. The club thanked him for his efforts and wished him the best for the future.
Crystal Palace Snatches Draw Against Manchester City
Crystal Palace pulled off a remarkable comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Manchester City. Despite City taking an early lead, Palace fought back with a goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta. In stoppage time, Palace was awarded a penalty, which Michael Olise converted to earn his team a valuable point. The result leaves Manchester City in fourth place in the Premier League, while Palace sits in 15th place.