FOOTBALL – Barcelona extended their perfect LaLiga start with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Getafe yesterday before Real Madrid overcame Villarreal 1-0 despite having Vinicius Jr sent off.
Barca’s victory makes it eight wins for Hansi Flick’s side and maintains their five-point lead at the top over Atletico Madrid, who won 2-1 at Alaves with a late Cristian Romero goal.
Real Madrid’s narrow win keeps them in third place on 18 points, six points off the pace set by their arch-rivals.
Real had the clearer first-half openings against Villarreal, with Kylian Mbappe’s seventh-minute shot hitting the post.
They remained unconvincing on the ball, although neither side was able to direct proceedings.
However, in the 63rd minute Yan Diomande beat the offside trap to score his first goal since joining Real in August.
Vinicius Jr thought he had added a second goal eight minutes later but instead the Brazilian was sent off after a VAR review for pulling substitute Nathan Saliba’s hair.
Real held out for victory with 10 men helped by an excellent Thibaut Courtois save from substitute Carlos Romero’s effort.
Barcelona went ahead after two minutes when Anthony Gordon cut inside and saw his shot deflect off Getafe midfielder Mario Martin and beyond goalkeeper David Soria.
The visitors struggled to escape their own half under sustained pressure and Gabriel Jesus punished a giveaway by Zaid Romero to score on the half-hour in his first start for Barca.
The hosts remained firmly in control after the break, with Getafe testing Joan Garcia only once on the keeper’s return from injury.
Jules Kounde completed the scoring for Barca in the 73rd minute with a simple finish from Lamine Yamal’s curling cross.
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