La Liga round-up: Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico wins

Table of Contents
Real Madrid logo
Real Madrid
7 - 1
Sporting Gijon
Sporting Gijon logo
Rafael van der Vaart 18
Kike Mateo 54
Rafael van der Vaart 33
Gonzalo Higuaín 37
Rafael van der Vaart 47
Arjen Robben 52
Raúl 59
Raúl 64


Dutch ace Rafael van der Vaart hit a hat-trick as Real Madrid crushed Sporting Gijon 7-1 to go second in La Liga.

Sporting had been crushed 6-1 by Barcelona in their last match and went one worse at the Bernabeu.

Van der Vaart, a 13 million euro summer signing from Hamburg SV, twice on target in the 18th and 33rd minutes before Argentine Gonzalo Higuaín added a third before half-time.

The 25-year-old wrapped up his treble two minutes after the restart and then set up fellow Dutchman Arjen Robben for Real's fifth on 52 minutes.

Kike Mateo pulled a goal back for the visitors on 54 minutes before Raúl completed the rout with a quick-fire double midway through the second half.

The defending champions now trail league leaders Villarreal by a point at the summit.


Barcelona logo
Barcelona
3 - 2
Real Betis
Real Betis logo
Samuel Eto'o 17
Luciano Monzón 59
Samuel Eto'o 23
Jose Mari 67
Eidur Gudjohnsen 80


Substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen grabbed an 80th minute winner as Barcelona defeated Real Betis 3-2 to register their first home win this season.

Samuel Eto'o reached a landmark 100 goals with the Catalans after the Cameroonian twice converted from Lionel Messi assists inside the opening 25 minutes.

But Betis launched a sterling second half comeback, paralleling last season when they were two nil down against Frank Rijkaard's Barça at half-time before winning 3-2.

Luciano Monzón pulled one back in the 59th minute and then on 67 minutes through Jose Mari.

Icelandic international Gudjohnsen was introduced on 70 minutes and he notched the winner ten minutes later.

Betis coach Paco Chaparro was furious that Betis were not awarded a late penalty after a foul by Martín Cáceres.

The victory helps push Barcelona up to fifth in the table.


Getafe logo
Getafe
1 - 2
Atlético Madrid
Atletico Madrid logo
Juan Albín 75
Florent Sinama-Pongolle 29

Florent Sinama-Pongolle 82


Atlético Madrid lie third in La Liga, level on points with city rivals Real Madrid, after a 2-1 derby win at Getafe.

Atlético opened the scoring through former Liverpool forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle in the 29th minute before Juan Albín headed home the leveler on 75 minutes.

But seven minutes later, 24-year-old Sinama-Pongolle poked home the winner to give Getafe their first defeat of the season.

Former Atletico hero Fernando Torres, now at Liverpool, said this week there was no reason why his old club couldn't challenge for the title this season and the capital club have started like title contenders.


Elsewhere in La Liga on Wednesday:

Osasuna logo
Osasuna
0 - 0
Deportivo La Coruna
Deportivo La Coruna logo
Sevilla logo
Sevilla
2 - 0
Espanyol
Espanyol logo


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