Real Madrid held once again
Las Palmas continued their excellent start to the season by holding European champions Real Madrid 2-2 in a topsy-turvy encounter at Estadio Gran Canaria.
The visitors took the lead just past the half-hour mark. Nacho raced down the left wing and hit a shot which was parried by Javi Varas. The ball then fell to Marco Asensio who had the easy task of heading the ball into the net.
Seven minutes before the interval Momo crossed beyond Raphael Varane. The ball fell to Tana who was allowed to take control of the ball inside the penalty area before striking an effort into the bottom corner to equalise.
Cristiano Ronaldo thought he had scored 11 minutes after the restart but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Shortly before the mid point of the second half Morato made a burst before feeding Ronaldo whose shot Varas did well to save but the ball fell to Karim Benzema who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Los Blancos were the dominant force, so much so that Zinedine Zidane felt he could substitute Ronaldo. Their complacency was punished five minutes from the end of normal time however when Aythami Artiles’ excellent knock-down was met by Sergio Araujo. His shot came back from Kiko Casilla but the striker was quickest to the rebound and he forced the ball into the net, meaning Real Madrid drew their second La Liga game in a row though they remain top of the table while Las Palmas move up to fifth
Barca slaughter Sporting Gijon
Barcelona made light of the absence of talisman Lionel Messi as they hammered Sporting Gijon 5-0 at El Molinón.
Messi is set to be ruled out for three weeks with a groin injury sustained in Wednesday’s draw with Atletico Madrid. The Argentinian star was one of five absentees from Barcelona’s usual staring 11.
Luis Enrique’s men took the lead on the half hour when Arda Turan’s ball over the top saw Ivan Cuellar advance from his goal but he couldn’t get to the ball in time, Luis Suarez poked the ball beyond the helpless ‘keeper before proceeding to stroke it into the gaping goal.
Within two minutes the visitors doubled their lead. Neymar passed to Sergi Roberto who had found space up the right wing. He crossed to the near post for Rafinha to conviningly head home.
While Sporting had occasionally looked threatening, any hope of a comeback was over 17 minutes from time when Lora was sent off for a second booking following a late challenge on the superb Roberto.
Nine minutes from time Paco Alcacer smashed an effort from Roberto’s cross onto the crossbar. Neymar proceeded to collect the ball, before rounding the ‘keeper and tap the ball into the empty net.
Turan made it 4-0 with another simple finish five minutes from time after the home defence was once again found wanting.
Denis Suarez then did very well to slip Neymar in on the left edge of the area before the Brazilian netted his brace with a shot across Cuellar into the far corner of the net in the 89th minute. Neymar was prevented bagging a hat-trick in injury time when another effort hit the woodwork.
