Nine games into the season, only one team in La Liga has won every match, and Matchweek 9 gave Barcelona another reason to feel unstoppable. The ten games, played from Friday to Monday, produced 29 goals, three home wins, three away wins, four draws and two red cards. Two of the biggest scorelines were 5-2 away wins, for Barcelona at Real Betis and for Real Sociedad at Malaga. Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1, Atletico Madrid found a late winner at Espanyol, and Osasuna climbed six places. Here is how every game played out in La Liga, from the Friday opener to Monday night.
Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Levante
The Friday opener never quite caught fire ended with the points shared. Deportivo had the better of the chances, 1.49 expected goals from 13 shots to Levante's 0.57 from 11, and they went in front on 63 minutes when Bil Nsongo finished with his right foot. That looked enough until the closing stages, when Daniel Requena equalised for Levante with his left foot on 82 minutes, set up by Petar Ratkov. Levante had slightly more of the ball, 54 per cent of it, and won five corners to three, while Deportivo committed 17 fouls to their visitors' 12. A goalless first half saw bookings for Iván Romero and Luismi Cruz, and two more came late on, for Adrián Dela and Adrià Altimira. It was the fifth draw of the season for Deportivo, who finished the weekend ninth on 11 points. Levante, with seven points from eight games, stayed 17th.
Deportivo's Bil Nsongo and Yeremay celebrate against Levante. Photo: Mediaset
Espanyol 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Atlético Madrid waited until the 89th minute at Espanyol and then took all three points. They had 71 per cent of the ball, 19 shots to the hosts' 10 and 12 corners to four, yet the game stayed goalless through a first half in which Morten Hjulmand and Kang-in Lee were both booked, and for most of the second. Álex Baena, one of several substitutes sent on, finally broke through with a right-footed finish, set up by fellow replacement Julián Álvarez. By expected goals the result was fair, 1.78 to 0.49, although only six of Atlético's shots were on target to Espanyol's two. It was also a bad-tempered afternoon, with seven yellow cards, five of them shown to the visitors, Baena among them in the 68th minute. Espanyol slipped three places to 15th on eight points, having now lost five of their nine games. Atlético stay second on 22 points, one more than Real Madrid.
Atlético Madrid players celebrate at Espanyol. Photo: RDS
Villarreal 0-0 Elche
If Villarreal's supporters wondered where the goals went, the numbers will not have helped. Villarreal had 20 shots to Elche's seven, seven of them on target to one, 10 corners to five and 2.30 expected goals to 0.22, and the game still finished 0-0. The hosts held 58 per cent of the ball, completed 528 passes at 87 per cent accuracy and were caught offside six times. Elche had to make an enforced change as early as the 28th minute, Federico Redondo replacing the injured Marc Aguado, and then spent most of the afternoon defending, collecting four yellow cards to Villarreal's two: Gonzalo Villar, Tete Morente, Roy Revivo and Víctor Chust for the visitors, Alex Freeman and Juan Foyth for the hosts. A VAR card review involving Alberto Moleiro came and went in the 61st minute. For Villarreal, 12th on nine points, it was a third draw in nine games. For Elche, 18th on seven, it was a fourth.
Villarreal and Elche players challenge for the ball. Photo: Cadena SER
Real Betis 2-5 Barcelona
This was the afternoon Barcelona made it nine wins from nine, and they did it with plenty of goals and a little help from a red card. Lamine Yamal gave them the lead after ten minutes, set up by Jules Koundé. Valentín Gómez headed Real Betis level on 27 from a Pablo Fornals delivery, and Rodri nodded Barcelona back in front on 41, Fermín López the provider. After the break Gabriel Jesus made it 3-1, Yamal this time the creator, only for Abde Ezzalzouli to answer almost at once from a Giovani Lo Celso pass. Then came the turning point: Facundo Bernal was sent off for violent conduct in the 54th minute, and Barcelona took full advantage. Eric García made it 4-2 on 62 and Dani Olmo 5-2 on 81, both set up by Pau Cubarsí. Barcelona had 69 per cent of the ball, 18 shots to six and 3.27 expected goals to 1.35. They have scored 39 goals in nine games and conceded nine. Betis slipped from third to fourth on 19 points.
Barcelona players celebrate at Real Betis. Photo: MSN
Valencia 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Two sides, one point each, and not a great deal to remember beyond the numbers. Valencia had 37 per cent of the ball but 16 shots to Athletic Bilbao's nine, and 2.25 expected goals to 0.52, so Valencia were the side with more to regret. Only three of those shots were on target, though. The first half belonged to the referee: Dani Raba was booked on 19 minutes, Aymeric Laporte on 38 and Beñat Gerenabarrena for handball four minutes later, and Mikel Jauregizar replaced Gerenabarrena at the break. Athletic won six corners to two and held 63 per cent of the possession, and each side collected three yellow cards. The teams' previous meeting, in May, had ended 1-0 to Valencia at Athletic. Valencia stay 19th with six points from nine games. Athletic, who have played only seven, are 11th on nine.
Valencia v Athletic Club. Photo: Flashscore
Osasuna 2-0 Racing Santander
Few clubs had a better weekend than Osasuna, who rose six places to 10th with a 2-0 win over Racing Santander. Ante Budimir put them ahead from the penalty spot in the ninth minute, and the hosts then spent most of the afternoon creating chance after chance without adding to it: 20 shots against nine, seven on target against one, and 3.12 expected goals against 0.22 by the end. It took until the 88th minute for Asier Osambela to settle it with a left-footed finish. Osasuna had only 44 per cent of the ball, but they won seven corners to four and committed 21 fouls to Racing's nine, yet collected only two yellow cards to their opponents' three. The result lifts Osasuna to 11 points, level with Alavés, Celta Vigo and Deportivo, although a goal difference of minus eight explains why they sit below that group. Racing, 16th on eight points, have now lost five of their nine games.
Osasuna players celebrate against Racing Santander. Photo: Eurosport
Celta Vigo 2-1 Alaves
Alavés dominated the numbers and Celta Vigo took the points, which says a lot about finishing. The visitors had 20 shots to six, nine on target to three, four corners to none and 1.18 expected goals to Celta's 0.76, but it was Celta who were clinical. Ferrán Jutglà broke the deadlock on 53 minutes with a left-footed shot, set up by Javi Rodríguez, and Rodríguez then scored the second himself on 71, with Iago Aspas the creator. Hugo Novoa pulled one back with a left-footed shot on 87 minutes, set up by Mariano, but by then the damage was done. Celta had only three shots on target and two of them went in. There was just a single yellow card for each side, Sebastián Cáceres for Celta and Toni Martínez for Alavés, and Celta committed 14 fouls to the visitors' 17. Celta rose a place to eighth, still one behind Alavés, with the same 11 points and the same goal difference of plus three.
A Celta Vigo player celebrates against Alavés. Photo: El Gol Digital
Malaga 2-5 Real Sociedad
Málaga are still without a league win after nine games, and it is hard to say they did not have their moments. Real Sociedad were in front inside three minutes through Takefusa Kubo, set up by Hector Fort, and Orri Óskarsson made it 2-0 on 26, which made for a comfortable first half. But Málaga were not finished: Adrián Niño pulled one back on 54 minutes, set up by Pablo Martínez, and Mikel Oyarzabal restored the cushion on 59 with Kubo's pass. Martínez then scored himself from a corner on 66 to make it 2-3, and for a minute the game was alive. Oyarzabal made it 2-4 on 67, set up by Jon Martín, and Gonçalo Guedes added a fifth on 73. Sociedad had 21 shots to 17 and 2.57 expected goals to 1.93, so it was closer than the scoreline suggests. They rise from sixth to fifth on 16 points. Málaga, bottom on four points from four draws and five defeats, have the worst goal difference in the division, minus 12, shared with Racing Santander.
Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored twice at Málaga. Photo: IMAGO via Sofascore
Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla
Real Madrid had a Sunday to enjoy, and the first half was the best of it. Arda Güler put them in front on 30 minutes, set up by Yan Diomande, and Kylian Mbappé made it 2-0 seven minutes later with Jude Bellingham providing the pass. Mbappé converted a penalty on 63 minutes for his second, and the contest looked over until Manu Bueno pulled one back with a left-footed finish on 80, Lucas Stassin the creator. Real Madrid replied within two minutes, Diomande scoring the fourth on 82 after a pass from Aurélien Tchouaméni, so he finished with a goal and an assist. The hosts had 65 per cent of the ball and 666 passes at 91 per cent accuracy, and 2.12 expected goals to Sevilla's 1.32, though they won only one corner to two. Dean Huijsen and Marc Cucurella were booked. The win lifts Real Madrid from fourth to third on 21 points. Sevilla slip a place to sixth on 14.
Real Madrid players celebrate against Sevilla. Photo: Flashscore
Getafe 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Monday's game ended level, and Getafe had to earn it with ten men for more than an hour. Álvaro García put Rayo Vallecano in front on 11 minutes with a right-footed shot, Jorge de Frutos the creator, and then Getafe's afternoon got harder: Dakonam Djené, already booked, was sent off in the 28th minute for a professional foul as the last man. They kept the visitors out for the rest of the first half, and on 56 minutes Martín Satriano equalised with a right-footed finish, set up by Francho Serrano. Rayo had 68 per cent of the ball, 21 shots to 12 and 2.29 expected goals to 0.90, and the sides won eight corners each, yet Getafe held on. It was a game of cards: six yellows and a red for Getafe, the first shown to Kiko Femenía in the very first minute, and three yellows for Rayo. Getafe stay 14th on nine points. Rayo, 13th on the same total, have played only eight games.
Getafe players celebrate at the Coliseum. Photo: COPE
La Liga table after Matchweek 9, and what comes next
At the end of the weekend Barcelona led the La Liga table on 27 points from a possible 27, five clear of Atlético Madrid on 22, with Real Madrid third on 21 and Real Betis fourth on 19. Real Sociedad were fifth on 16. At the bottom, Málaga were 20th on four points and Valencia 19th on six. Some clubs had played fewer games than the rest: Athletic Bilbao had played seven, Levante and Rayo Vallecano eight. One of those games has since been played: Levante won a rearranged fixture against Athletic 3-1 on Wednesday (Levante 3-1 Athletic Bilbao). Matchweek 10 brings a huge fixture: Barcelona v Real Madrid on Sunday sees the leaders host a side six points behind them. Atlético v Deportivo on Saturday and Celta Vigo v Real Betis on Sunday follow. Every fixture is on our La Liga fixtures page.
