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Barcelona Triumphs as They Ascend to La Liga Summit
Barcelona returned to the pinnacle of the La Liga standings following a decisive 4-0 victory at home against a ten-man Real Sociedad on Sunday. This win marked Barcelona’s sixth consecutive victory in the league, propelling them to first place with 57 points across 26 matches, just ahead of Atlético Madrid.
Real Madrid follows closely in third place with 54 points, having suffered a 2-1 loss to Real Betis on Saturday.
The match took a pivotal turn early when Real Sociedad’s defender Aritz Elustondo received a red card in the 17th minute for a foul on Dani Olmo. Capitalizing on their numerical advantage, Barcelona quickly struck as Gerard Martín and Marc Casadó found the net, both securing their first professional goals. In the second half, the relentless pressure from Barcelona continued, culminating in goals from Ronald Araújo and superstar Robert Lewandowski.
Post-match, Araújo expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “We’re happy about the way we played. It was important to win today, to go first in the table. We’re happy and we feel that we’re working really well.”
Lazio Edges Milan with Late Penalty in Serie A
In a thrilling encounter in Serie A, Lazio clinched a 2-1 victory over Milan at the San Siro, thanks to a penalty awarded in added time. The match unfolded under tense conditions, as Milan struggled to maintain composure amidst protests from their own supporters against the club’s ownership.
Initially, the Milan ultras boycotted the stands, leaving their section empty until the 15th minute. They returned just in time to witness Mattia Zaccagni score for Lazio in the 28th minute. The atmosphere turned hostile for the home side, who were roundly booed off the pitch at halftime. Milan’s woes deepened when they were reduced to ten men in the 67th minute after Strahinja Pavlovic was sent off, yet they managed to equalize with a header from Samuele Chukwueze five minutes before the end. However, Pedro sealed the match for Lazio with a late penalty conversion.
Lyon’s Lacazette Shines Amidst Controversy
In Ligue 1, Lyon secured a 2-1 victory against Brest, highlighted by a standout performance from Alexandre Lacazette. After conceding an early penalty, Lacazette redeemed himself by scoring twice to lead his team to victory. However, the match was marred by drama, as Lyon’s coach Paulo Fonseca was sent off during stoppage time for confronting the referee over a potential handball penalty against Brest.
Fonseca’s emotional outburst occurred as he leaned in closely to the referee, Benoît Millot, leading to his removal from the touchline. Afterward, he attempted to challenge the referee again but was restrained by Lyon players. His actions may result in a significant suspension, and he later issued an apology. The contentious handball decision was eventually reviewed via video replay, resulting in no penalty being awarded.
Source
www.theguardian.com