LONDON: Lucas Vazquez scored an injury-time winner for 10-man Real Madrid against Alaves to send Carlo Ancelotti’s men above Girona to the top of the LaLiga table for Christmas.
Girona’s draw earlier in the evening meant Real knew victory would be enough to see them leapfrog the Catalan side but they played most of the second half with 10 men after Nacho was sent off for a bad challenge on Samu Omorodion.
The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw but Vazquez headed in a corner two minutes into injury time to seal a 1-0 victory, said PA Media.
Earlier, German Pezzella’s late strike earned Real Betis a 1-1 draw against Girona.
Artem Dovbyk swept home a first-half penalty to put Girona on course for a ninth win in 10.
Betis tried to force the issue in the second period but failed to register a shot on Paulo Gazzaniga’s goal until Pezzella’s rocket found the top corner late on.
Mallorca claimed a second home win in a row, defeating Osasuna 3-2 in an entertaining clash at the Iberostar Stadium.
Pablo Ibanez put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute but the hosts hit back quickly through Matija Nastasic and took control early in the second half with goals from Dani Rodriguez and Antonio Jose Raillo Arenas.
Osasuna threatened a dramatic comeback when Raul Garcia grabbed their second in injury time but Mallorca held on.
Sixth-placed Real Sociedad recorded a third successive 0-0 draw, this time against struggling Cadiz. – Bernama, PA Media/dpa
