Atletico Madrid beat Getafe to leapfrog city rival Real Madrid and go second. Both Barcelona and Atletico have 38 points but Barcelona has a better goal difference. Playing in the first of five La Liga matches on Sunday, Atletico won its sixth consecutive league game to move a point clear of Real, which could only draw with Real Vallecano on Saturday.
The Madrid side will go into the match with the momentum after recording its 11th straight victory in all competitions on a chilly afternoon at the Wanda Metropolitano. It took Atletico until the 70th minute to get the winner from Alexander Sorloth's header. His changes, however, had little effect and Leganes, promoted from the second tier in May, celebrated a win that lifts it into 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Dmitrovic made three saves that were life-saving for us. Things were getting tight and this gives us a little breathing room. Athletic had chances to win β a late goal from Dani Vivian wasn't allowed because of an infringement β but the draw leaves it in fourth place, four points behind Real Madrid and five behind the top two.
The Argentine forward was sent off for a cynical foul 11 minutes before halftime with Betis up thanks to a goal from on-loan Barcelona striker Vitor Roque. Giovani Lo Celso made it a minute after the break with a superb free kick and, although Alex Baena got one back with a superbly taken volley, Betis left with all three points to take it to ninth place.
VAR reduces the chance of these eventualities. VAR should be an ally, not an enemy. Also, Real Sociedad failed to win for the first time in five matches with a draw at home to Las Palmas. Both sides had chances to win the match but poor finishing and good goalkeeping at both ends meant a share of the points.
