Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior scored in the first half to give Real Madrid an easy 2-1 win over neighbours Rayo Vallecano on Sunday that helped them draw level at the top of the table in the battle to retain their La Liga crown.
Only one point separates Spain’s three biggest clubs in one of the closest title races in recent years with Barcelona leading the pack on 57 points, ahead of second-placed Real on goal difference with Atlético Madrid in third on 56 points after a 2-1 loss at Getafe earlier on Sunday. Barça, who will face Atlético next Sunday, have a game in hand after their match against Osasuna on Saturday was postponed due to the sudden death of their team doctor.
Real dominated proceedings and took a two-goal lead with quickfire strikes, as Mbappé finished a counter in the 30th minute and Vinícius extended their advantage with a fine individual goal four minutes later. Rayo reduced the deficit in added time before the break with a tremendous shot from the edge of the area by Pedro Díaz, which hit the crossbar before bouncing over the goalline and then out again, with the VAR replay awarding the goal after it was not given by the referee.
Getafe’s Mauro Arambarri scored a last-gasp quickfire double to upset 10-man Atlético 2-1. Alexander Sørloth came off the bench to convert a penalty in the 75th minute for Atlético after a long VAR review spotted a handball which left the home team fuming. Seconds after Guillermo Cuadra flashed a straight red to Atletico’s Angel Correa for a studs-up tackle in the 88th minute, however, Arambarri stroked home a rebound from close range and, two minutes into added time, he deflected Diego Rico’s shot past Jan Oblak and into the net.
Napoli earned a deserved 2-1 win over Fiorentina at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday, to move back on to the shoulders of the Serie A leaders, Inter. Romelu Lukaku gave Napoli the lead from a rebound in the 26th minute in a dominant first-half display from the hosts where Giovanni Di Lorenzo hit the crossbar.
Giacomo Raspadori doubled Napoli’s lead on the hour mark before Fiorentina pulled one back through Albert Gudmundsson but there was no late drama. Napoli moved on to 60 points, one behind Inter who secured a 3-2 comeback win over Monza on Saturday. Fiorentina remain seventh in the standings on 45 points.
Atalanta cruised to a 4-0 win at Juventus to strengthen their grip on third place. Mateo Retegui put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot following a handball by Weston McKennie just before the half-hour mark. Marten de Roon pounced on a rebound off Juve defender Lloyd Kelly to fire the ball into an open net early in the second half, before Davide Zappacosta made it 3-0 in the 66th minute. Ademola Lookman sealed the rout as he netted 13 minutes from time. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side sit third with 58 points, three behind leaders Inter, while Juventus remain fourth on 52 points.
