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Sport

Atletico Madrid keep up winning La Liga start at Leganes

Lebanese
Madrid, Aug. 26, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Atletico Madrid made it two wins out of two as Vitolo scored in the second half to secure a hard-fought 1-0 La Liga victory at Leganes on Sunday.

Atletico had never won in Spain’s top-flight at their fellow Madrid outfit’s Butarque stadium but Vitolo’s strike ensured they continued their impressive early season form.

New signing Joao Felix created the goal, picking up the ball on the right-hand side.

He drove at the Leganes backline before feeding Vitolo, who produced a composed 71st minute left-footed finish to put Diego Simeone’s side ahead.

After a first half largely devoid of goalscoring opportunities, both sides traded efforts after the break.

Saul Niguez hit the post for Atletico, while Leganes midfielder Jonathan Silva struck the crossbar with a free-kick.

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak then produced a fine stop from Javi Eraso minutes before his side opened the scoring.

“I’m very pleased to get the win at a tough ground to play at and against a side who make life difficult for you,” Simeone told a news conference.

“We showed our intent in the first 20 minutes and I think we dominated the game. Then they improved and the match became a bit more diluted.”

Alvaro Morata wasted a glorious opening in the dying minutes that would have ensured a less nervy finish for the visitors.

But the capital city side remain just one of two sides, along with Sevilla, with a 100 percent league record this season.

“We needed to win and for that we tried many things over the 90 minutes and changed the system.

“We wanted to improve as the game went on. We won and all good,” Simeone added.

“Leganes are a side who irritate you. There’s no space, and they make the game comfortable for themselves.

“Yet, fortunately, we were able to change the dynamic of the game with our change of system.”

Having started the first two games of the season on the bench, goalscorer Vitolo will be hopeful of a start next time out as Atletico host Eibar on Sunday.

Simeone, though, sounded a warning to all of his top players, adding: “Players don’t start just because they do or don’t score.

“They start because of consistency, hard work and dedication.”(Reuters/NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

La Liga: Real Madrid stumble again in disappointing 1-1 draw with Leganes

Draw

Leganes (Spain), April 15, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Real Madrid stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Leganes on Monday, the latest disappointing result in a nightmare season for the European champions.

Zinedine Zidane’s side, who are third in the table and 13 points behind leaders Barcelona, were uninspired against local rivals Leganes.

Madrid put in the kind of lethargic performance which has plagued their season, with Marco Asensio and Raphael Varane missing good first-half chances.

Jonathan Silva fired Leganes ahead in the 45th minute with their first chance of the game, driving home from the edge of the box.

Karim Benzema equalised at the start of the second half and Marcelo saw a shot tipped away as Madrid enjoyed a short period in ascendancy.

Leganes, 11th in the table, went close to winning the game but Youssef En-Nesyri had a goal correctly disallowed for offside. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/YEE

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Sport

Messi comes off the bench to sink Leganes 3-1

Messi

Barcelona (Spain), Jan. 20, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Lionel Messi came off the bench to inspire FC Barcelona to a 3-1 win at the Nou Camp over a dogged Leganes side on Sunday in the Spanish La Liga.

Messi created one goal and scored another to keep the Catalans five points clear at the top, after the visiting side had drawn level and started threatening an upset.

The Argentine, left out of the starting line-up for only the second time this season when fit, was called on with 64 minutes on the clock and the game poised at 1-1.

This was after Leganes forward Martin Braithwaite had cancelled out Ousmane Dembele’s first half opener with a 57th minute strike.

Messi quickly provided the spark Barca needed by firing a venomous shot from outside the area, which was too powerful for goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar to hold.

Luis Suarez pounced to stab home the rebound in the 71st minute, after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) review.

The La Liga top scorer made sure of the victory in stoppage time, sweeping across the area and hammering the ball past a helpless Cuellar.

It was his 18th goal of the season in Spain’s top flight.

The win took leaders Barca to 46 points, five clear of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, after 20 games.(Reuters/NAN)
VO/KTO/OLAL
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(Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo and Olawale Alabi)