EA Sports LaLiga continues with the third round of the championship, just one day after the second ended. Villarreal and Celta opened the event on Monday at La Cerámica, with a thrilling match, which ended with a late victory for the home team (4-3). On Tuesday, the main event came with FC Barcelona visiting Rayo Vallecano, a match that ended with a comeback for the Blaugrana, led by Dani Olmo, who scored on his debut as a Blaugrana (1-2). The round closed on Thursday, with Real Madrid and UD Las Palmas sharing points at Gran Canaria (1-1).
Girona remembered that they were a Champions League team at the time the draw for the competition was being made and they knew they would face Liverpool, Arsenal, PSG and Milan. The memory was activated in the team despite the many changes that have taken place in their squad and they rediscovered the sensations, the connections, the goals and the victory against a sad Osasuna. Tsygankov’s left foot continues to make the difference after the departure of Savinho, Dovbyk and Álex García. And the essence remains at the end of the day because Girona is a team of authors and the coach is Michel. Ramon Besa
Real Madrid, who are threatening with Kylian Mbappé whenever they show up at any stadium, are still not firing on all cylinders despite a dream arsenal, and after the first three games they are already four points behind Barcelona, with a thousand obstacles in the offices and the accounting books. Carlo Ancelotti’s team got into trouble again in Las Palmas after a slow and sluggish first half in which they quickly found themselves behind on the scoreboard against a rival who played with a clarity that Real Madrid cannot find. They went through the match trailing, trying to impose themselves by insistence in the absence of ideas, tremendously frustrated, and only found the goal from the penalty spot. David Alvarez
Athletic Club claimed their first win of the season, albeit by a narrow margin, at the expense of a disappointing Valencia side, which has lost all three of its league appearances. A goal from Prados in the last minute of the first half tipped the balance. It was a good time to make his debut as a goalscorer in the First Division, in his second season. The visiting team simply did not show up. Not even with the score against them did they make the slightest attempt to push Athletic Club on their own turf. Jon Rivas
Valladolid – Leganes (0-0)
Valladolid and Leganés drew 0-0 in a direct duel for survival. It is a positive result for the visitors, who have reached five points and have gone three games without defeat at the start of the season. For the home team, it is not a bad outcome either, because the victory in the first match against Espanyol is still keeping them afloat, with four points and halfway down the table, but they have missed an opportunity to win at home against a direct rival in the fight to avoid relegation.
Real Sociedad – Alaves (1-2)
Alavés surprised Real Sociedad away from home and won at Anoeta with goals from Villalibre and Martínez. Brais Méndez scored for the team from San Sebastián. Luis García Plaza’s team has climbed the table and is now among the top ten teams in the competition, while Imanol Alguacil’s team has only three points after three games.
The lack of goals in the first half hour and a sluggish game that dismantled Espanyol’s effective defensive system for an hour caused Atlético’s first serious setback in this league. A damaging draw, one of those that are remembered when looking at the table with the season underway. Atlético dominated a lot, but when they were hard pressed to find solutions in the final stretch, things became cloudy. Their two big signings for the forward line, Julián Alvarez and Sorloth, watched the draw on the bench after being replaced. The first at half-time, the second with 20 minutes to go, when Simeone was scared by an Espanyol counterattack and brought on Reinildo. Ladislaus Moñino
Villarreal – Celta Vigo (4-3)
Villarreal and Celta opened the day with an exciting match at La Cerámica. Borja Iglesias opened the scoring in the 12th minute, taking advantage of a rebound inside the area. Later, Sergi Cardona equalised the match from a corner kick, but Óscar Mingueza put the Celta team back in front with a free kick. In the second half, Thierno Barry tied the match for Villarreal, who a few minutes later turned the score around thanks to an own goal by Jailson. Celta did not want to leave La Cerámica without points and Carl Starfelt temporarily put the score at 3-3. However, Dani Parejo sealed the final score with a goal in added time. The midfielder had missed a penalty awarded at the hour, but managed to put the rebound in to give Marcelino’s team the three points and the provisional lead.
Sevilla and Mallorca drew 0-0 in a match dominated, essentially, by the Andalusian team, who deserved more. A duel where, also, Mallorca had its chances of winning. For example, in extra time, when Doménech did not finish off a great cross from Samu in the six-yard box. Then, Sevilla was already one man down due to the expulsion of Saúl in the last minute for protesting to the referee. Rafael Pineda
FC Barcelona have come from behind against Rayo in Vallecas. Unai López opened the scoring for the home side with a good right-footed shot, after a great low cross from Jorge de Frutos. In the second half, Pedri stepped into the area more and tied the game after a great combination of passes with Raphinha. Later, Dani Olmo made a dream debut in the blaugrana shirt and put his team ahead with a great left-footed shot, passed by Lamine Yamal. The score did not change again and the Catalan side consolidate their sole leadership of the competition, with three wins in three games. In addition, they end a run of three games without a win in Vallecas, a ground that had been difficult for them in recent visits. James Rodríguez, Rayo’s new signing, was not included in the squad for tonight’s match and his debut will have to wait until the next few games.
Betis – Getafe (Postponed | Time to be determined)
The match between Betis and Getafe has been postponed, as the Betis side will be playing in the Conference League on Thursday.
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