Celta Vigo beat Barça, Real Madrid move top
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| AFP |
Barcelona's 100 per cent start to Spanish La Liga season was brought to a stunning end as Celta Vigo thrashed the European champions 4-1 on Wednesday. Real Madrid took advantage of Barça's defeat to move a point clear of the Catalans at the top of the table thanks to Karim Benzema's double in a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao.
Celta sit second, behind Madrid only on goal difference, after comprehensively inflicting Barça's first league defeat since February. Barcelona slip to fifth as Villarreal's 1-0 win at Malaga also gives them a share of the lead in third. Former Barça forward Nolito put Celta in front before former Liverpool man Iago Aspas struck twice on the counter-attack. Neymar pulled a goal back for Barça, but Celta rightly had the final word as John Guidetti rounded off a famous win with the Galicians' fourth nine minutes from time.
In Bilbao, Madrid were gifted the lead on 19 minutes when Benzema pounced on an under-hit back-pass from Mikel San Jose to net for the fifth consecutive game. Cristiano Ronaldo's wait to surpass Raul as Real's top-scorer continued as his best effort of the night was beaten away by Gorka Iraizoz moments later.
Elsewhere, Sevilla's nightmare start to the campaign continued as they remain rooted to the bottom of the table after a 2-0 defeat to promoted Las Palmas, who celebrated their first top flight victory in 13 years. Villarreal beat Malaga 1-0, Rayo Vallecano edged Gijon 2-1 and Levante drew with Eibar 202.