The La Liga title race took another little twist on Sunday afternoon as Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw away to Rayo Vallecano.
After a run of four consecutive Primera Division wins Real Madrid put in a limp performance in a 1-0 loss to Liverpool in midweek, and they followed that up with another flop in Vallecas. Los Blancos trekked across the City to face a dangerous Vallecano but while the hosts failed to breach the Madrid defence Alonso will be disappointed by his own strikers’ lack of form, drawing two blanks in a week.
The La Liga 2025 betting odds back a Los Blancos title in Alonso’s first season as head coach and with 21 shots, though just five on target, they looked capable, apart from in the big moments.
Winger Arda Guler forced a smart save in the third minute with a powerful low strike and Vinicius Junior also tested the Vallecano keeper while Raul Asencio missed a header when he should have been on target; but that was it in a subdued first 45 minutes. In the second half Jude Bellingham came close with a fierce shot from a tight angle but Kylian Mbappe, who was quiet in the loss against Liverpool, was off the pace again.
Vallecano had their own chances but didn’t really test Thibaut Courtois and when Jude Bellingham’s late header flashed wide of the post both sides settled for a point.
The hosts will be happy enough with that; but the SBOTOP odds have taken a slight turn back to Catalonia and now it’s down to the Blaugrana to respond.
More La Liga success for the Yellow Submarine
Villarreal recovered form a shock 1-0 defeat away to Pafos in the Champions League to beat Espanyol 2-0 and climb up to second in the La Liga table. When Barcelona visit Celta Vigo on Sunday night the Blaugrana can nudge the Yellow Submarine out but, for now, Marcelino’s men are Real Madrid’s closest chasers.
Espanyol were the surprise package of the early weeks, putting in some impressive La Liga 2025 results, but back to back defeats have seen Los Periquitos slip off the pace. The two teams cancelled each other out for much of a lively first half until Gerard Moreno silenced the home fans when he scored with a speculative shot from outside the penalty area.
The hosts came out for the second half with all guns blazing but they were hit by another sucker punch. Canadian midfielder Tajon Buchanan broke down the left before crossing for Albert Moleiro to sweep home a second for the visitors. As Espanyol threw men forward they were vulnerable at the back, and Santi Comesana almost added a third, but 0-2 was enough in the end and Villarreal march on.
Elsewhere Nico Williams was back in the action for Athletic Bilbao, scoring the goal in a 1-0 win against Real Oviedo as the Basque club continue their climb up the table, and Sevilla ended a three match losing run thanks to a 1-0 win over Osasuna.
Griezmann at the double for Atleti
Atletico Madrid made it four wins on the bounce in all competitions as they beat Levante 3-1 to cement their top four position in the Primera Division table. Levante’s Adrian de la Fuente put through his own net with just 12 minutes on the clock; but the visitors were level within ten minutes as Manu Sanchez met a Jon Olasagasti corner and planted a bullet header into the top left corner.
Atleti went out on the attack as Julian Alvarez and Jose Gimenez both went close before winger Alex Baena had a shot saved in the bottom right corner. But the two teams went into the half time break level and it stayed that way until the 61st minute. Manager Diego Simeone called on his most experienced goal scorer, Antoine Griezmann and the Frenchman responded, putting Los Rojiblancos 2-1 up within a minute of taking the pitch. Marcos Llorente crossed and the Atleti legend was on the spot to poach the goal. And he was at it again when he bagged another from close range on 80 minutes.
The club’s all time top scorer said: “It’s hard for us to find solutions sometimes, but those of us who come on from the bench are always bringing a boost.”
The win was no more than Atleti, who seem to have shed their ultra defensive image, deserved, as they had 75 per cent possession and 25 shots, ten of them on target. And with players of the quality of Griezmann to call on they will always carry a potent goal threat.
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