Trailing 2-0 at half-time at home to bottom-placed Almeria, Real Madrid snatched victory (3-2) thanks to a Carvajal goal in added time on Sunday in the 21st round of La Liga matches, while FC Barcelona were saved by Ferran Torres and Joao Félix against Betis Sevilla (4-2).
The tireless Spaniard pushed home a header from Bellingham to give his team three precious points in the title race (90+9, 3-2).
Real, logically groggy for their fourth match in ten days, including two extra-time wins over Atlético Madrid in the Spanish Supercup (5-3) and Copa del Rey (4-2), nevertheless moved two points clear of Girona, who face Sevilla FC tonight with a game in hand.
The recent Supercup winners were stunned in the 39th second by an Andalusian side still without a win this season, with Ramazani finishing off a fine team move with the flat of his foot.
Los Merengues then had no answer and could only admire Edgar Gonzalez’s powerful volley from 20 yards that ended up in Kepa’s top corner (43rd, 2-0), giving the Andalusians the lead.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men came back into the game in the second half thanks to the 14th league goal of their providential man Jude Bellingham, more than ever La Liga’s top scorer, from the penalty spot (56th, 2-1).
A few minutes later, they threatened to pull one back when Sergio Arribas, trained by the club, scored a third goal, which was eventually disallowed for a foul by Lopy on Bellingham at the start of the action.
It then took Vinicius’ somewhat fortuitous shoulder kick from Tchouaméni’s perfect cross, validated after video review, for Real to equalize (67th, 2-2), before exulting over Carvajal’s winning goal (90+9, 3-2).
Félix and Torres Save Barça
Still too fragile defensively, Barça almost lost precious points in the title race at Betis Sevilla but finally won 4-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Ferran Torres and a gem from Joao Félix.
The Portuguese striker, who came on as a substitute a few minutes earlier, gave his side the lead in the 90th minute with a splendid shot from the outside of his right foot before the Spanish international completed his hat-trick in added time (90+2, 4-2).
The Catalans are now back in third place, seven points behind Real Madrid (1st, 51 points) and five behind Girona (2nd, 49 points) ahead of tonight’s match against Sevilla FC (9 PM).
Leading by two goals to nil, the Blaugranas let the Andalusians back into a game in which they had gotten off to a poor start, with playmaker Isco scoring twice in five minutes (56th, 61st).
A crucial win for Xavi’s men, who are still struggling to defend their title.
With AFP
