Real Madrid’s Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring during their Spanish league football match against Espanyol in Cornella de Llobregat Sunday.
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It was the 16th straight league victory for Madrid, going back to last season, thus matching Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona record in 2010-11 season.
Madrid maintained a three-point lead over Barcelona with its fourth straight league victory this season.
“What is important is to keep adding points”, Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla said. “That is what we want, but we haven’t won anything”, added the Frenchman.
With the team’s two most high-profile stars – Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo – ruled out of the game, Zidane opted for a make-shift forward line consisting of Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, and Lucas Vazquez.
Real Madrid made the breakthrough in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the first period when James Rodriguez created a couple of challenges on the edge of the box before finding the bottom corner of the net with an excellent low drive.
Villarreal will represent a stern test for Zidane’s men when the two clash in mid-week, as they hope to continue their unbeaten streak this season after winning their last two games against Malaga and Real Sociedad.
Atletico Madrid seemed unaffected by the news that Diego Simeone and the club had agreed to reduce his contract by two years, as goals from Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro within the first five minutes put Atletico 2-0 up at home to Sporting Gijon.
“He has a lot of resources”, Villarreal coach Fran Escriba said of Sansone.
Veteran striker Aduriz equalized with a header in the 24th and scored the victor with a right-footed shot from inside the area the 41st. In just the third of those games, for example, they played atrociously against Las Palmas and appeared to be heading for a 1-1 draw ― which would have in itself been barely deserved ― before Casemiro popped up with an 89th minute victor.
On Thursday Deportivo la Coruna host Leganes, Osasuna take on Espanyol and Alaves travel to Valencia. This team are hungry and want to win games and break records.
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England global Joe Hart kept a clean sheet in his home bow for Torino, which drew 0-0 with Empoli, while Cagliari beat Atlanta 3-0 and Crotone picked up its first ever Serie A point by drawing 1-1 at home to Palermo.
