La Liga round-up: Real Madrid stay top heading into Madrid derby, Villarreal leapfrog Atletico and Barcelona keep pace

BEFORE Atletico Madrid’s trip to the Anoeta and a date with in-form Real Sociedad, Diego Simeone had already expressed how he and his players intended to bring the Basques winning streak to a halt.

Not even La Real old boy Antoine Griezmann could come up with the answers in this one, the Rojiblancos completely outplayed in the first period and deservedly downed 2-0 at full-time - albeit from two penalties converted by Carlos Vela and Willian Jose.

The result meant that Atleti couldn’t draw level with Real Madrid at the top for 24 hours at least, and they now go into the Madrid derby knowing it’s a must-win game.

Los Blancos made it 23 league games unbeaten with a confident dispatching of Leganes, Real keeping their first clean sheet in 11.

Zinedine Zidane’s side had to wait until late in the first half before Gareth Bale opened the scoring thanks to an exquisite Isco assist.

The Welshman doubled his tally before half time with Alvaro Morata rounding off the scoring late on.

The young Spaniard is now the top scorer at the Bernabeu, Cristiano Ronaldo firing another blank and protesting so furiously about a decision during the game that he found himself in the book. A thoroughly unsatisfactory afternoon for the Portuguese.

A chance apiece in the opening two minutes set the tone for Sevilla’s titanic clash against Barcelona.

Vitolo stabbed the hosts into the lead on 15 after another mistake from Sergi Roberto, the youngster at fault for the opener at Manchester City during the week.

Jorge Sampaoli’s high-octane brand of attacking football was too much for Barca to handle in the opening exchanges and the Catalans weren’t at the races until an opportunist finish from Lionel Messi just before the break.

The game continued at a furious pace in the second half but this time the visitors had the upper hand throughout and Messi was decisive again in feeding Luis Suarez for Barca’s second.

In truth the visitors could’ve had at least another two on balance of play and Sampaoli will be regretting the fact that his team couldn’t take their own chances in a first 45 when they were well on top.

Malaga overcame a spirited Sporting Gijon side and served up a 3-2 classic at La Rosaleda on Friday night.

Borja Viguera opened the scoring for the visitors on 12 but Pablo Fornals slid the hosts level in first half injury time.

Duje Cop’s wonderfully flighted free-kick handed the visitors the lead again before Sandro Ramirez scored for the third game running and then Michael Santos’ mid-air acrobatics saw him twist and head in a superb winner.

Although still winless, Lucas Alcaraz will be delighted with his Granada side’s draw at home to Deportivo La Coruna.

Florin Andone scored his first for the Galicians since replacing Lucas Perez but David Lomban salvaged a point late on for the hosts.

Second from bottom Osasuna had the chance to get their first home win of the campaign at El Sadar but once again they were unable to capitalise.

Not really a surprise when manager Enrique Martin adopts an ultra defensive 5-3-2 formation - Alaves took all three points thanks to Christian Santos’ 77th-minute spot kick.

After being the better side for long periods of their game, Eibar were also downed by a penalty but the timing of Jonathan Viera’s for Las Palmas was cruel.

In a game scheduled to end on 94 minutes, the official awarded the spot kick after 93 minutes 53 seconds.

With no time to get back into it, the Canary Islanders had stolen all three points.

Cesare Prandelli’s Valencia juggernaut came crashing down at Balaidos as Celta Vigo triumphed 2-1.

A game that was always going to have goals didn’t really get going until after the first half hour had elapsed, Dani Parejo putting the visitors ahead – via another penalty.

A sign of where the Italian needs to do his best work came in the second half as sloppy defending gifted the hosts the win, John Guidetti sealing it on 77 after Facundo Roncaglia’s leveller.

The less said about Athletic Bilbao’s 0-0 draw at Espanyol the better. It really was as bad as the scoreline would suggest.

Gus Poyet is still hanging onto his job at Real Betis at the time of writing but strong rumours coming out of Spain is that the 2-0 defeat at Villarreal will be his last in charge.

Both goals from the Yellow Submarine were astonishing long-range efforts that deserved to win any match, Manu Trigueros and Roberto Soriano taking the hosts up to third.