Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid moved five points clear at the top of the La Liga table thanks to a 2-0 win over in form Espanyol as Eder Militao and Kylian Mbappe bust the visitors’ net with a pair of howitzers.
With three wins from their first four league games Los Periquitos were not short of confidence when they arrived at a packed Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but their bubble was burst when defender Eder looked up fro 30 yards out and smashed a pile-driver into the top corner to send the Madrid fans wild.
The Catalans are a bright outfit, with plenty of belief and, as half time approached they came close to levelling but Fernando Calero missed a headed which was easier to convert, with the goal gaping, from a few yards out. And the Catalans were counting the cost of that miss when Mbappe scored his fifth goal in five games to lead the race for the Golden Boot. And it was another scorcher as the French star took a pass from Vinicius Junior and arrowed an unstoppable shot past the Espanyol keeper from 25 yards.
This was a tough hurdle to jump over and Los Blancos did it in style. Barcelona, in second place, can cut Los Blancos’ lead to two points when they meet Getafe on Sunday night, but the Blaugrana won’t take that game lightly. In other La Liga 2025 news Atletico Madrid’s stuttering start to the new campaign continued with a 1-1 draw away to Real Mallorca. After a quiet first half, Atleti striker Alexander Sorloth was sent off on 72 minutes but Conor Gallagher put Los Rojiblancos ahead, only to see Vedat Muriqi head a late equaliser for Mallorca.
Yellow Submarine is rising
Villarreal took advantage of Espanyol’s loss to climb up to third in the league table, but they had to fight back from a 1-0 deficit against Osasuna. Thomas Partey was harshly adjudged to have handled but, despite heated protests from the Villarreal players, the referee pointed to the spot and Ante Budmir calmly converted. But the hosts rallied and when Manor Solomen, on loan from Tottenham Hotpsur, sent in a teasing cross Georges Mikautadze glanced home his header and, with Osasuna on the ropes, the Yellow Submarine applied the pressure, which paid off as Pape Gueye deflected home the winner.
That made it three wins from five for Villarreal, who finished fifth last term and look to be in good shape to challenge for a top four place again.
Back to back losses for Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao’s plan to exploit a downtrodden Valencia rather fell flat, and they dropped out of the top six as they fell to surprise 2-0 defeat at the imposing Mestalla Stadium. Bilbao were seemingly in control of the game and looked the more likely team to score, but the match turned on its head on the hour when Dani Vivian denied Baptiste Santamaria a clear sight of goal and the Bilbao man received a red card.
Valencia made the most of the numerical advantage when Santamaria headed home from a corner on 72 minutes. And Santamaria was the provider when Valencia striker Hugo Duro doubled the lead in injury time. This was a superb comeback from a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Barcelona last week and Valencia moved up to tenth, while back to back losses dropped Bilbao to seventh.
Sociedad’s early season woes continue
While this SBOTOP writer is a proud Burnley fan, my Spanish team is Real Sociedad and, as we speak the Basque giants are struggling more than the Clarets and are languishing in the bottom three of Primera Division. The La Liga 2025 betting odds predict Sociedad will climb up into the top ten and challenge for Europe, but they have made a sluggish start under Sergio Francisco.
And, while a trip away to Real Betis on Friday night was not the easiest of tasks, a 3-1 defeat made it three losses on the bounce, to pile the pressure on Francisco, while Betis climbed up to fifth. 60,000 fans packed into the Estadio Olimpico de la Cartuja and the roof almost came off when Cucho Hernendez scored on seven minutes, but Brais Mendez levelled for La Real just six later and the score stayed at 1-1 until the break.
But, early in the second half an Alex Remiro own goal gave Betis a 2-1 lead and Pablo Fornals made it 3-1 on 69 minutes. With 50 per cent possession and five shots on target Sociedad had plenty to offer in this game but left Seville empty handed.
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