Sunday was a whirlwind of action across Europe’s top football leagues, even with the Premier League taking a bit of a backseat.
In Spain, both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid hit the pitch hoping to bridge the gap to league leaders Barcelona after their match was postponed on Saturday.
Over in Italy, Napoli faced a must-win situation against Fiorentina to keep their Serie A title dreams alive. Meanwhile, Juventus hosted an evening showdown with Atalanta.
Let’s dive into the drama and see how these matches unfolded.
Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid managed to secure a closely contested 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu, matching Barcelona on points at the top of La Liga.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad came out strong, with Vinicius Jr. nearly putting them ahead early on, striking the post. However, the breakthrough arrived at the 30-minute mark thanks to Kylian Mbappe. Showcasing his skill, Mbappe cut in onto his right foot and sent a precise shot curling into the far corner of the net.
Madrid doubled their lead just four minutes later, this time through a spectacular solo effort from Vinicius Jr. But as half-time approached, Vallecano responded. Pedro Diaz struck a powerful shot that hit the crossbar and bounced over the line, confirmed by goal-line technology.
Despite easing off in intensity, Real Madrid had another golden opportunity, with Luka Modric teeing up Vinicius, who inexplicably missed from close range.
As time ticked away, Vallecano turned up the pressure. Yet their final passes lacked the quality to challenge Andriy Lunin between the sticks. In the dying moments, Lopez’s long-range attempt drifted wide, sealing the victory for Madrid.
Getafe 2-1 Atletico Madrid
In a thrilling finale, Getafe executed an incredible comeback to edge out Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a dramatic contest at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
After a cautious first half ended goalless, Atletico drew first blood in the 75th minute through Alexander Sorloth. He coolly slotted home a penalty awarded after VAR identified a handball by Omar Alderete.
The game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the closing stages. Mauro Arambarri brought Getafe level in the 88th minute, seizing a loose ball in the box and blasting it into the net.
Soon after, a reckless tackle saw Angel Correa receive his marching orders, leaving Atletico with ten men and tilting the balance further towards Getafe.
Deep into additional time, Arambarri emerged as the hero again, scoring from close range after a lengthy VAR review upheld the goal, sparking wild celebrations among Getafe supporters.
Atletico launched a frantic assault seeking an equaliser, but Getafe held firm to clinch a memorable victory.
Napoli 2-1 Fiorentina
Napoli breathed new life into their Serie A title quest with a crucial 2-1 triumph over Fiorentina, ending a frustrating run of five matches without a win.
Right from kickoff, Antonio Conte’s team seized control, carving out early chances. Their persistence paid off in the 26th minute when Romelu Lukaku capitalized on a rebound, finishing emphatically after David De Gea initially parried a Scott McTominay drive.
Napoli nearly struck again before the break, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo rattling the crossbar and Leonardo Spinazzola denied by De Gea’s quick reactions.
The tempo shifted in the second half, offering Fiorentina a route back. However, on the hour mark, Lukaku demonstrated his prowess, fending off defenders and laying the ball to Giacomo Raspadori, who calmly increased Napoli’s lead.
Fiorentina responded swiftly, six minutes later, with Albert Gudmundsson bending a lovely shot into the corner after Moise Kean’s clever setup. Despite a spirited push for an equalizer, they were thwarted by a resolute Napoli defense.
Napoli could’ve sealed the deal in stoppage time, but Giovanni Simeone’s solo effort was thwarted by De Gea. Nevertheless, their sturdy defense ensured all three points stayed at home.
Juventus 0-4 Atalanta
Atalanta delivered a flawless 4-0 demolition of Juventus in Turin, leaving home fans disillusioned as they streamed out well before the final whistle.
Under Gian Piero Gasperini’s guidance, Atalanta dominated from the start, while Thiago Motta’s Juventus seemed at a loss throughout a torrid evening.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Mateo Retegui made no mistake from the penalty spot after McKennie’s handball.
Juventus struggled to craft any real offensive threat, finishing the first half without a shot on target. Meanwhile, Atalanta nearly doubled their advantage with Lookman hitting the post and Ederson firing narrowly wide.
The second half saw Atalanta pick up where they left off, needing just a minute to make it 2-0. Marten de Roon pounced on a loose ball after Di Gregorio saved Lookman’s strike, hammering it home.
From there, the goals came flooding in. A clever Kolasinac backheel in the 66th minute set up Zappacosta, who skillfully slotted from a tight angle. A deflated Juventus had no answer, hastening an exodus from the stands.
The rout concluded in the 77th minute, in ironic fashion. Substitute Dusan Vlahovic’s slip allowed Lookman through on goal, his attempt ricocheting off Kelly into the net, cementing an embarrassing scoreline.
Late pressure saw McKennie force a save from Carnesecchi, yet it was nothing more than a consolation effort in an otherwise chastening night for Juventus.
