Advertisement

Real Madrid beats Valencia 2-0 to rebound in Spanish league

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid has found some peace again after the humiliating loss to Eibar in the Spanish league.

Madrid followed the 3-0 loss at Eibar with a 2-0 win over red-hot Valencia on Saturday.

The victory over Valencia, which had won three straight in the league, moved Madrid from sixth to fifth in the standings, three points behind leader Sevilla and two points behind second-place Barcelona. Sevilla visits fourth-place Alaves on Sunday, while Barcelona hosts Villarreal. Third-place Atletico Madrid, two points off the lead, visits Girona.

Valencia lost at Juventus 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, a result that ended its chances of advancing from the group stage. At the same time, Madrid won at Roma 2-0.

Playing at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium for the first time after four straight away games, Madrid was loudly cheered by fans after the match, despite a lackluster second half.

Madrid started well and opened the scoring less than 10 minutes in with an own-goal by Daniel Wass. The midfielder headed the ball into his own net while trying to clear a cross from Dani Carvajal to Karim Benzema. The French striker set up Lucas Vazquez's 83rd-minute goal from close range to seal the victory.

There were some jeers for Gareth Bale after another mediocre display when he was substituted by Marco Asensio in the second half. Luka Modric also was substituted in the second half, being replaced by Federico Valverde.

Francisco "Isco" Alarcon, who had fallen out of favor with coach Santiago Solari, entered the match in the 80th to a loud ovation from the crowd.

Madrid was without midfielder Toni Kroos and left back Marcelo because of minor injuries.

Valencia dropped to 13th in the standings.

ASPAS THRIVES

Celta Vigo got back on track thanks to an inspired performance by Iago Aspas.

Aspas scored in each half as Celta defeated last-place Huesca 2-0, ending a four-match winless streak in all competitions.

The result moved the Vigo club to 12th place in the standings, six points clear of the relegation zone.

It was the 14th straight game without a win for promoted Huesca, whose only victory came in the league's first round at Eibar.

GETAFE WINS

Getafe defeated Espanyol 3-0 to end a three-game winless run and move to seventh in the standings.

Jorge Molina, Jaime Mata and Vitorino Antunes scored second-half goals for the hosts.

Espanyol, sitting sixth, one point in front of Getafe, has lost three in row.

LEGANES MOVES UP

Leganes won at Valladolid 4-2 to move further away from the relegation zone.

Guido Carrillo scored twice and Dimitrios Siovas and Oscar Rodriguez added a goal each to give Leganes its second consecutive win. The team from Madrid's suburbs extended its unbeaten streak to five matches in all competitions.

Carrilo's first goal in the 66th minute — Leganes' third of the match — came after an incredible mistake by Valladolid goalkeeper Jordi Masip, who let the ball slip by him as he tried to control a pass back from a defender inside the area. Carrilo easily scored into the open net.

Valladolid hasn't won in five consecutive league matches.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

___

Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni