Saturday was a good day of football in the Spanish Liga BBVA. Even a predictably boring Eibar-Levante turned out to be a thrilling contest that finished 3-3. Barcelona played well, kept a clean sheet and earned three points at Rayo Vallecano while Atlético Madrid were doomed after the initial 13 minutes.
La Liga scores, Week 7: Barça cruise, Valencia stun Atlético
Barcelona win away against Rayo while Eibar and Levante put on a goalscoring show that ended 3-3.
Manuel Queimadelos Alonso
Valencia 3-1 Atlético Madrid / Full report
Valencia scored three goals over the first 13 minutes of the match. Miranda started the game terribly and conceded an opening own-goal that paved the way for Valencia. André Gomes and Nicolás Otamendi made it 3-0. Even though it all looked finished, Mandzukic cut Valencia's lead on the 29th minute and left back Guilherme Siqueira had a chance to send his team to halftime with 3-2 in the scoreboard. Unfortunately for Simeone's men, Siqueira missed from the penalty spot and that sealed the game as Valencia sat deep and looked to end the match with some good defensive play throughout the whole second half.
Rayo Vallecano 0-2 Barcelona / Full report
As it was written in the full match report, Rayo tried to play positive football -- as always -- and learned why most teams just decide to play defensively against FC Barcelona. The problem is that Paco Jémez should be aware of this as his team managed to finish last season’s game against Barcelona with the higher possession percentage and still lost 0-4. This time, Barcelona had enough with only two goals. Messi and Neymar scored and Piqué started. Shocker.
Eibar 3-3 Levante
It will be hard for the rest of the Spanish La Liga teams to top this match’s excitement. Levante built a good and solid 0-2 lead, but the recently promoted Eibar side were able to equalise in the 70th minute thanks to a wonder goal by Saul Berjón. Watch it here. After that, the referee disallowed an Eibar goal that would have completed the comeback. Levante went on to score the heartbreaking 2-3 goal, but Eibar still had the guts to fight back and notch up the final 3-3 in added time. Brilliant game.
Almería 2-2 Elche
The home side completely dominated the game but still Elche got the lead twice -- and wasted it both times. After Elche scored the 1-2 in the 56th minute, Almería went all-in until Hemed got the equaliser in the 84th minute. This game will likely be a huge blow for Elche, who needed more than a draw to breathe after their three consecutive losses. Almería have started the season well and are sitting in a comfortable eighth position, although there’s obviously still a long way to go.
Málaga 2-1 Granada
El Arabi opened the game for Granada in the very first minute, but Málaga were brave enough to claw back and score the 1-1 thanks to Roque Santa Cruz after an hour of play. Málaga defender Angeleri was sent off 10 minutes later but his team managed to get the three points due to a converted penalty by Antunes with 10 minutes to go. Granada tried their best to at least get a point but Málaga's defensive wall stood its ground. After a brilliant start to the season, Joaquín Caparrós' Granada have lost the last three games.
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