La Liga Roundup, Matchday 3
The third round of La Liga has concluded, featuring exciting matches, impressive performances from players, and surprising outcomes. Here is a summary of the games from matchday 3 in La Liga.
Villarreal 4-3 Celta Vigo
Villarreal climbed to 2nd place in La Liga after Dani Parejo scored a dramatic stoppage time penalty, leading the Yellow Submarine to a thrilling 4-3 win against Celta Vigo at the Estadio de la Cerámica. This victory marks Marcelino’s team’s fourth consecutive home win against Celta Vigo. In a surprising turn of events, Barry was deemed to have been fouled in the box during the dying moments of added time. Parejo took the penalty for the home team, and although his first attempt was saved, he managed to score from the rebound, propelling Villarreal to second place in the La Liga standings.
Mallorca 0-0 Sevilla
Mallorca and Sevilla continue to search for their first win of the La Liga season, following a dull 0-0 draw at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix. Sevilla had a player sent off late in the game when Saúl received a red card for dissent, but Mallorca couldn’t capitalize on having the extra player, and both teams struggled with finishing, resulting in a scoreless tie. This leaves both teams with the same points and goal difference, but they will have one more chance to secure a win before the international break this weekend.
Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Barcelona
Dani Olmo made headlines by scoring the decisive goal in a comeback win Barcelona, which ended Rayo Vallecano’s three-match unbeaten streak at home against them and kept Barça’s perfect record intact this season. A significantly improved performance in the second half ultimately led to the victory for the visitors, bringing their points total to nine after the first three matches in La Liga. For Rayo, a strong performance ultimately meant little, as this marked their third loss in seven home league games, a trend that dates back to the end of last season.
Real Valladolid 0-0 Leganes
Real Valladolid and Leganés faced off in a La Liga match that is unlikely to be remembered, ending in a 0-0 draw. This result marks the first time Leganés has managed to avoid defeat in an away La Liga game played on a Wednesday. Valladolid may feel they missed a significant chance, as a victory would have been their ninth in 12 competitive matches at Estadio José Zorrilla. Ultimately, the draw benefits Leganés more, as they continue to remain unbeaten after three games since their return to La Liga.
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Valencia
Valencia manager Rubén Baraja, is facing pressure in his second full season after his team suffered a 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao, leaving them without any points after three games. Although Valencia had more possession in the second half, they failed to challenge goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, who had a relatively easy match. Meanwhile, the home team maintained their impressive form at Estadio San Mamés, remaining unbeaten in 18 matches over the past year and moving up into the top half of the early La Liga standings.
Real Sociedad 1-2 Alaves
Deportivo Alavés secured their first La Liga victory of the season and their first away win against Real Sociedad since 2018, achieving a comeback 2-1 triumph at the Reale Arena. This match was expected to be a turning point for La Real, but overall, it has been a disappointing start to the season for Imanol Alguacil’s team, who now sit in 13th place after suffering two losses in their first three matches.
Atletico Madrid 0-0 Espanyol
Atlético Madrid played a goalless draw against a determined Espanyol at the Civitas Metropolitano, allowing the visitors to secure their first point since returning to La Liga. In the end, both teams shared the points in a match where Simeone will likely ponder the two points lost against a team they dominated for much of the first half. On the other hand, this result would be a positive for González’s squad, although their search for a first league goal since their promotion continues into their fourth La Liga match.
Girona 4-0 Osasuna
Girona turned around their disappointing start to the season by securing a convincing 4-0 victory against Osasuna, marking their first win and handing the visitors their first loss of the La Liga season. Both teams now have four points after three matches, but based on this performance, Girona appears to be in a stronger position to compete for European spots, while Osasuna had difficulty making an impact in the match.
Las Palmas 1-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid had to rally to earn a draw against Las Palmas, who rightfully secured a 1-1 tie with the La Liga champions after taking an early lead thanks to Alberto Moleiro. Earning a point against Real Madrid for the first time since 2017 will boost Luis Carrión’s morale as he aims to end a 17-game winless streak in the league and help his team avoid relegation. Meanwhile, the visitors extended their unbeaten streak to 35 matches, but they will need to enhance their performance in all areas if they hope to secure the La Liga title for a second consecutive season.
