Artem Dovbyk went on a scoring spree with a hat trick in seven minutes, securing a dominant 5-1 victory for minnows Girona over Sevilla on Sunday to reclaim the highest spot in La Liga.
After Real Madrid scraped via with a controversial 3-2 win over backside facet Almeria, and a treble by Ferran Torres helped Barcelona win 4-2 at Real Betis, Girona demonstrated their title credentials.
The Catalan membership, within the prime flight for less than the fourth season of their historical past, are shock challengers for the Spanish title and lead second-place Madrid by a degree, having performed one further recreation.
Madrid’s victory over winless Almeria, which briefly took them to the highest earlier than Girona performed, was steeped in drama and controversy.
Dani Carvajal scored the profitable objective within the 99th minute to settle a wild and vastly entertaining conflict on the Santiago Bernabeu, the place Madrid had trailed 2-0.
Almeria took a two-goal lead via Largie Ramazani’s Thirty eighth-minute strike and a screamer from Edgar Gonzalez.
Madrid battled again to triumph as Jude Bellingham transformed a penalty, and Vinicius Junior used his higher arm to divert house an equalizer earlier than Carvajal’s last-gasp winner.
Madrid had three key VAR adjudications go of their favor, together with Vinicius’ objective, which Almeria thought-about handball, a objective of their very own dominated out, and a penalty given to Madrid.
“(We leave) with the feeling we’ve been robbed,” complained Almeria midfielder Gonzalo Melero.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti disagreed.
“I understand Almeria’s anger with the VAR decisions, but I think they were well judged,” Ancelotti informed reporters.
Tired crew
Madrid received the Spanish Super Cup final Sunday by thrashing Barcelona in Saudi Arabia after which misplaced 4-2 in opposition to Atletico Madrid within the Copa del Rey in midweek.
“It was a tired team,” defined Ancelotti, who stated the first-half show was one to neglect.
Madrid got here roaring again after that, with Bellingham on the coronary heart of it, La Liga’s joint prime scorer with Dovbyk firing house from the spot for his 14th objective of the marketing campaign.
After Vinicius nudged in to stage, Bellingham had a objective dominated out for offside and despatched an excellent overhead kick narrowly vast.
The England worldwide helped create the winner by nodding the ball to the again publish for Carvajal to smash house and spark jubilant celebrations after one other epic Madrid comeback.
Barcelona, third, let a two-goal lead slip in opposition to Betis however recovered to remain within the title race.
Torres scored twice to place Barca two forward, however they surrendered their lead as former Real Madrid playmaker Isco struck a brace of his personal.
Joao Felix completed deftly within the ninetieth minute, and Torres netted once more to safe victory for the Catalans, who path neighbors Girona by eight factors.
Torres, reaching a century of appearances for Barcelona since becoming a member of from Manchester City two years in the past, was decisive and stated he had labored onerous for his second.
“It’s the fruit of hard work, discipline, consistency, of believing in yourself,” Torres informed Movistar.
Barcelona handed younger defender Pau Cubarsi his first begin, and with Lamine Yamal additionally within the crew, lined up with two 16-year-olds.
Everyone has seen it
Barca coach Xavi Hernandez was happy with their performances but additionally selected to specific his concern on the refereeing in Madrid’s win.
“If we talk, they will suspend us, but everybody has seen it,” stated Xavi.
“I already stated … there have been issues that did not match proper with me on this league.
“There are things that we can’t control, and everyone has seen that.”
At Girona’s Montilivi stadium, struggling Sevilla, seventeenth and only a level above the relegation zone, took a shock lead via Isaac Romero.
However, Dovbyk’s speedy treble between the thirteenth and nineteenth minutes noticed Michel Sanchez’s glowing facet take full management.
Ukrainian compatriot Viktor Tsygankov bought in on the motion early within the second half, and substitute Cristhian Stuani rounded off the rout.
“We’re not conscious of how hard it is to do this, because of the feelings that we have, you can see it in our happiness on the pitch,” stated Girona winger Portu.
“Day to day here is spectacular, the ones who are playing the least (in the squad) are the ones who are supporting the team the most, you can see the happiness.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com