La Liga Roundup, Matchday 4
Matchday 4 of La Liga has wrapped up, showcasing thrilling matches, standout player performances, and unexpected results. Below is a recap of the games from this matchday in La Liga.
Barcelona 7-0 Real Valladolid
Barcelona continued their perfect start to the La Liga season by crushing newly-promoted Real Valladolid 7-0. This victory also extended their unbeaten streak in home league matches against Valladolid, which dates back to November 1997. Fortunately for the visitors, the scoring ended at seven, as Barcelona seemed satisfied with the strong statement they made to their La Liga competitors, particularly Real Madrid.
Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Atletico Madrid
A late goal from Ángel Correa secured a 1-0 victory for Atlético Madrid against Athletic Bilbao at Estadio de San Mamés. This win marked an impressive seventh clean sheet for Diego Simeone’s team in their last nine league matches. In the 93rd minute, Alexander Sørloth intercepted Iñigo Lekue’s possession at the halfway line and passed the ball to Ángel Correa, who skillfully maneuvered around the goalkeeper and rolled it into an empty net. This victory also marked Atlético’s second win over Bilbao in the same calendar year since 2018, and it was the first time Simeone’s team scored against them at home in four matches.
Espanyol 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
Alejo Véliz netted a last-minute goal in the 96th minute, leading Espanyol to their first La Liga victory since their promotion, as they rallied to defeat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 and snapped a three-match losing streak against them at RCDE Stadium. Given that Espanyol entered the game without a win or a goal, they will be thrilled to finally score, while Rayo has now faced two consecutive losses.
Valencia 1-1 Villarreal
Valencia earned their first point of the season but still sit at the bottom of the La Liga standings after drawing 1-1 at home against 10-man Villarreal in the Derbi de la Comunitat. Villarreal managed to come from behind and remain unbeaten in the 2024/25 season. Rubén Baraja’s team has now gone 11 league matches without a win. This marks only the second time Villarreal has secured an away point in the derby since their last victory in Valencia in 2017.
Leganes 0-1 Mallorca
Mallorca achieved their first win of the 2024/25 La Liga season after three attempts, securing a 1-0 victory against Leganés at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque. This outcome indicates that Mallorca has lost only once in their last seven head-to-head matches against Leganés, with four wins and two draws. On the other hand, Leganés’ unbeaten streak has come to an end, but the newly promoted team can feel content with their performance since returning to the top division for the first time since 2020.
Osasuna 3-2 Celta Vigo
Osasuna maintained their unbeaten run at the Estadio El Sadar, winning 3-2 and handing Celta Vigo their fifth loss in six away matches in La Liga. After managing only two goals in their first three games under Moreno, this strong offensive performance will surely lift Osasuna’s spirits as they prepare for a hectic September, which includes matches against Barcelona and Valencia. On the other hand, Celta’s second consecutive disappointing defeat could raise concerns.
Alaves 2-0 Las Palmas
Deportivo Alavés will head into the international break feeling optimistic after securing a 2-0 home win against Las Palmas, marking their third consecutive game without a loss and extending Las Palmas’ winless streak in La Liga to 18 matches. Although Luka Romero missed a late penalty, it didn’t affect the celebratory atmosphere as Alavés fans rejoiced over their first home victory of the season. Meanwhile, Carrión will have to wait two weeks for his next opportunity to achieve his first win as the head coach of Las Palmas.
Sevilla 0-2 Girona
Girona delivered an impressive away performance, securing a 2-0 victory in La Liga and marking their sixth consecutive win against Sevilla. This result prolongs García Pimienta’s search for his first win as the manager of Sevilla. The home side struggled to penetrate Girona’s resilient defense, as the visitors celebrated their second consecutive win without allowing a goal. Míchel’s team now has seven points, while the hosts go into the international break with only two points.
Getafe 0-0 Real Sociedad
A lackluster La Liga match between Getafe and Real Sociedad ended in a 0-0 draw, with neither team managing a shot on target until the 70th minute. The game offered little excitement, and both teams struggled to make an impact. Sociedad, in particular, had a disappointing performance given their ambitions for European competition, now accumulating only four points from four matches. Meanwhile, Getafe could not build on their single league goal, having gone nearly three and a half hours of play without scoring in La Liga.
Real Madrid 2-0 Real Betis
Kylian Mbappé scored two goals that helped the home team extend their unbeaten streak in the league to 36 matches with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Real Betis. Although Real Madrid started the season below their typical performance level, they are currently in second place, four points behind league leaders Barcelona, as they head into the international break. On the other hand, Betis is just above the relegation zone but can take comfort in having a game in hand over most teams in the league at this early point in the season.