La Liga

Real Madrid Stunned Again

Shocking start to the season for Real Madrid, who find themselves five points behind bitter rivals Barcelona after only two rounds of matches in La Liga.

The champions lost 2-1 to Getafe today, which combined with last week’s 1-1 draw at home to Valencia means Jose Mourinho’s side has only picked up one point from its opening two matches. Add in that in midweek, Barcelona beat Madrid 3-2 in the first leg of their SuperCup final and it is no wonder that the Special One laid into his players after today’s shocking defeat saying:

“It is an unacceptable performance and it was one of those games where I am not frustrated because the result is not a surprise to me, in terms of what I saw during the game.

“I’ve not spoken to the players yet, they do not have the feedback from what I think and what I have analysed, I have to talk to them.

“The only conclusion that I want to make is that it was as much a defeated merited for Real Madrid as it was a victory earned by Getafe.

“Getafe were very good from set-pieces and very competitive as they were last year. We were bad.”

Madrid play the second leg of their SuperCup final at home this week and Barcelona know that a result in the Bernabeu will not only give Tito Vilanova his first trophy as Barcelona manager, but it will also give the Catalan side a huge physiological advantage over their rivals.

Barcelona maintained its 100% start to the season when Lionel Messi scored two goals in the last 15 minutes to give Barca a come from behind victory away to ten-man Osasuna.

Osasuna stunned Barcelona when Joseba Llorente headed them into the lead in the 17th-minute and they seemed to be heading for a famous victory until Messi scored from close range after 76 minutes. When Francisco Puñal was sent off moments later. you knew that Osasuna would not be able to hold out and Messi completed the comeback with a fine finish from Jordi Alba’s left-wing cross.

Elsewhere, Valencia find themselves winless after another draw. Roberto Soldado put the hosts two up before Abel Aguilar pulled one back, though Sofiane Feghouli restored the cushion before the break. However, Aguilar’s second and Pizzi’s 76th-minute penalty secured a point for Deportivo, while Granada drew 1-1 with Sevilla, who lost goalkeeper Diego López to a 34th-minute red card.

Málaga came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at home against Mallorca as they look ahead to their UEFA Champions League play-off decider at Panathinaikos next week.

Emilio Nsue set up Israeli forward Tomer Hemed to head Mallorca in front with his third goal of the season on 67 minutes, but Isco laid on a great ball for Juanmi to give Málaga an equaliser 14 minutes from the end, and lift their spirits as they look to defend a 2-0 lead in Athens.