LaLiga Saturday Roundup: Atlético Edge Deportivo as Villarreal, Racing and Elche Claim Wins

Atlético Madrid beat Deportivo de La Coruña 1-0, while Villarreal came from behind to win 2-1 away at Valencia. Racing Santander also fought back from a goal down to beat Espanyol 2-1, while Elche claimed a convincing 3-0 victory away to Rayo Vallecano.

Here’s the LaLiga Round 10 roundup.

Julián Álvarez scored the only goal at the Metropolitano three minutes into the second half. Marcos Llorente and Álex Baena worked the ball across the pitch, and Alejandro Grimaldo played the final pass for Álvarez to finish from close range. Atlético had 56% of the ball and 20 shots to 15, but Deportivo actually got into better positions and had the higher expected goals, 1.95 to 1.36. Jan Oblak was the difference, making five saves to keep the clean sheet.

At Mestalla, Valencia went ahead in the 38th minute when Pepelu scored a penalty, even though Villarreal had most of the ball and had taken nine shots to one by then. The visitors’ substitutes changed things. Alexander Freeman headed in a Sergi Cardona cross to level in the 69th minute. The game then turned fiery, with Pape Gueye sent off for Villarreal in the 79th minute after a VAR check, and Harvey Elliott sent off for Valencia in the 89th for a second yellow. Georges Mikautadze then sealed it in added time, finishing a fast break set up by Alberto Moleiro. Villarreal had 61% of the ball and 19 shots to 9. 

Racing also had to fight back at El Sardinero. Edu Expósito put Espanyol ahead in the 62nd minute, but Jeanuël Belocian equalised seven minutes later after a pass from Sergio Canales. Yassir Zabiri then fired in the winner in the 84th minute, set up by captain Alvaro Mantilla. Racing had 23 shots to 11 and put nine on target to Espanyol’s one, and goalkeeper Ángel Fortuño made seven saves at the other end.

Elche made the most of their chances in Vallecas. Federico Redondo scored a penalty in the 23rd minute and Fernando Niño added another in the 36th. Rayo had a chance to get back into it when Pathé Ismaël Ciss hit the bar from the spot in the 39th minute. Germán Valera then made it 3-0 in the 68th minute, finishing low after a pass from Facundo Buonanotte. Rayo had 57% of the ball and 18 shots, but only five were on target and just one of their 29 crosses found a teammate. Elche put nine shots on target and scored all three of their big chances. Goalkeeper Matías Dituro made four saves.