Atletico Madrid Triumphs and Barcelona Continues: Teenage youngster Lamine Yamal struck twice as La Liga leaders Barcelona smashed Girona 4-1 on Sunday. Elsewhere Atletico Madrid strolled to a 3-0 victory over Valencia to pull level with second-place Real Madrid. Hansi Flick’s Barca have now won all five of their early matches and avenged two humiliating Catalan derby defeats against Girona last season with an impressive victory at Montilivi. Yamal’s first-half double sent Barcelona on their way with Dani Olmo and Pedri Gonzalez adding more goals after the break.
Cristhian Stuani pulled one back for the hosts, last season’s surprise gift who finished third in only their fourth season in the top division.
Girona lost several key players in the offseason with coach Michel Sanchez forced to rebuild.
Yamal grabbed his second before the break with a wonderful directed finish from the edge of the penalty area after a free-kick was cleared into his path.
Olmo increased Barcelona’s lead before the start of the second half with a fantastic finish from a tight angle, putting the new recruit from RB Leipzig on three goals from three La Liga outings.
Their fourth came through Pedri after midfielder Marc Casado expertly played him in and the lone Islander took his time to avoid Gazzaniga and score.
Retired Espanyol striker Stuani scored from close range with 10 minutes remaining to give Barcelona a consolation, after Barcelona replacement Ferran Torres was sent off for a stern foul on Yaser Asprilla.
Lamine Yamal Brace As Atletico Madrid Triumphs and Barcelona Continues:
I think today we had a lot of chances to score one or two goals more, but in the end I’m extremely delighted with the performance of the team.
Yamal, 17, or striker Lewandowski, 19, came close in the opening exchanges before the youthful sensation, who guided Spain to Euro 2024 success in the summer, broke the deadlock.
The winger picked the pocket of David Lopez as he sought to bring the ball out of defence, before scoring with aplomb beyond Paulo Gazzaniga after 30 minutes.
We started really focused on, very focussed, we pushed them — we know when we give them the amount of room they need for combinations we go in trouble, said Flick.
We saw the first goal, which was unbelievably great (pressing) from Lamine.
Despite starting the season with a perfect record, they were the only blemish on Barcelona’s otherwise spotless record.
Champions Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 2-0 on Saturday to take second place, four points adrift of Flick’s team.
After the loss, Girona is currently ranked seventh. Their next game is an away Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.
We need to move on from the setback as soon as possible because we have a really meaningful game this week. Stuani told Movistar that the match is historic for the team and that we should approach it with all of our might.
Later on Sunday, Diego Simeone’s team defeated Valencia with ease thanks to goals from Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez, who scored their first goals for Atletico Madrid.
At the Metropolitano stadium, Antoine Griezmann scored the second goal for the powerful Rojiblancos.
With five wins from their first five games, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal are tied for fourth place with 11 points apiece.
Arriving from Chelsea this summer, England international Gallagher tucked home in the 39th minute after Rodrigo de Paul sent him in with a deft pass that sidestepped a defender.
Goalie Jan Oblak of Atletico remarked of Conor, “He adds a lot of intensity to the match. He had a great game.”
Griezmann scored after 54 minutes, maintaining vigilant to be the first to respond to a loose ball, as Atletico maintained their lead.
Julian Alvarez, a summer transfer from Manchester City, was introduced by Simeone from the bench in the second half. The former striker scored his first goal for his new team in five games with a late tap-in.
Alvarez told Movistar, “I’m very happy with the win… and for the goal, for the assurance (it brings) and to help the team.”
“The strain hasn’t been on me… I’m always willing to contribute to the squad when called upon.”