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Roundup: Real Madrid stay on top of La Liga as Barca survive in Sevilla

Xinhua, November 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Real Madrid go into the international break as leaders of the Spanish Primera Liga with a 2-point advantage over FC Barcelona following a straightforward victory at home to Leganes.

Gareth Bale scored two goals late in the first half to put Madrid well on their way against a side that managed just one game on target all match. Alvaro Morata confirmed the win, that came despite Cristiano Ronaldo having another disappointing display before the announcement of his new contract, with a smart finish in the 75th minute.

Meanwhile, Barcelona kept in touch with a 2-1 win away to Sevilla in what Barca could claim to be their best game of the season to date.

Sevilla produced a magnificent first 40 minutes and rightly took the lead thanks to a 15th minute goal from Vitolo.

Jorge Sampaoli' s side controlled a game watched by members of the cast of TV show Game of Thrones, and should have added to their lead, but failed to take their chances and paid a heavy price when Leo Messi equalized with a powerful shot.

Barca improved drastically after the break, and Messi was again vital as he teed up Luis Suarez for what turned out to be the winning goal on the hour.

Villarreal moved up to third after Manu Trigueros and Roberto Soriano scored in a straightforward 2-0 win at home to Betis, whose coach Gustavo Poyet is expected to lose his job in the coming week.

Espanyol remain without a home win all season, although they probably did more than Athletic Club Bilbao in a dull 0-0 draw in Cornella. This will probably please the visiting side more after a tough midweek game in Europe.

Celta Vigo' s recovery continues at the expense of a Valencia side which has so far failed to improve results under new coach Cesare Prandelli.

Dani Parejo' s penalty put Valencia ahead only for Facundo Roncaglia to equalize in the 43rd minute and after Valencia had wasted chances to go back in front. John Guidetti' s header made sure all 3 points stayed in Vigo.

On Saturday Atletico Madrid suffered their second defeat of the season as they lost 2-0 away to Sociedad.

Atletico looked tired following their midweek Champions League game, and although Kevin Gameiro hit the post for Atletico in an even first half, the home side were better after the break.

They opened the scoring through a 54th minute penalty off a foul on Yuri, which Carlos Vela converted with a cool finish.

Vela drew a second penalty with 15 minutes remaining and Willian Jose stepped up to score the second.

Granada are still without a win this season after a 1-1 draw at home to Deportivo la Coruna, who opened the scoring through Florin Andone' s first goal of the season only for David Lomban to equalize in the 80th minute.

Cristian Santos scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Alaves won 1-0 away to Osasuna to leave their rivals second from bottom on the table and without a home win all campaign.

Las Palmas's meeting at home with Eibar was also decided from the spot, as Jonathan Viera' s 94th minute penalty earned the side a last-gasp 1-0 win. Endit