La Liga Roundup: Madrid Bounces Back With Victory Over Levante As Barcelona Falls Short Against Real Sociedad

La Liga delivered another thrilling and emotionally charged weekend, one defined by recovery, frustration, missed chances, and decisive moments at both ends of the table.

‎Real Madrid tried to regain stability following a turbulent week, while Barcelona’s winning streak came to an end amid VAR controversies and squandered chances.

‎Atlético Madrid leaned on a familiar key player to claim three vital points. Meanwhile, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Valencia, and Celta Vigo all made significant impacts in their respective matches, shaking up the standings.

‎Real Madrid Calm the Storm at the Bernabéu

‎Real Madrid entered Saturday’s match under enormous pressure, carrying the emotional scars of a disastrous week.

‎The 3–2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final had already shaken morale, but the shock departure of Xabi Alonso the following day and a humiliating 3–2 Copa del Rey exit to second-division Albacete further ignited the unrest.

‎All of that tension was on full display when the players stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu pitch, greeted by boos and chants directed at club president Florentino Pérez. The first half only amplified the frustration.

‎Real looked slow, cautious, and mentally drained as Levante, 19th in the table, found it surprisingly easy to contain a Madrid side lacking rhythm.

‎But the breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Dela tripped Kylian Mbappé in the box.

‎The Frenchman buried the penalty with his usual calm, pushing his league tally to 19 goals and instantly changing the energy inside the stadium. Seven minutes later, Raúl Asencio provided the comfort cushion, rising to meet Arda Güler’s corner with a commanding header that secured Álvaro Arbeloa’s first win as head coach.

‎Asencio spoke after the match about the team’s desire to respond to their recent failures.

‎“What happened in Albacete shouldn’t have happened,” he admitted.

‎“We felt guilty and wanted to make up for it.” His words echoed the relief felt around the Bernabéu a club in turmoil, finally given a moment to breathe.

‎The victory keeps Real Madrid second on 48 points, one behind Barcelona, who still hold a game in hand.

‎Betis Punish Wasteful Villarreal

‎Third-placed Villarreal suffered a costly setback with a 2–0 defeat at Real Betis. Marcelino García Toral’s side never found their rhythm and paid the price for their lack of sharpness in the final third.

‎Betis controlled much of the first-half possession before Aitor Ruibal broke the deadlock with a superb volley in the 57th minute.

‎Villarreal’s situation worsened when Santi Comesaña received a red card for a reckless challenge on Giovani Lo Celso, leaving his team with a mountain to climb.

‎Pablo Fornals sealed the win with a precise long-range finish seven minutes from time. The result leaves Villarreal eight points behind league leaders Barcelona and deepens concerns about their inconsistency.

‎Barcelona’s Winning Streak Ends in San Sebastián Chaos

‎Barcelona entered Sunday’s clash with Real Sociedad riding an 11-match winning streak, full of confidence after their Supercopa triumph over Real Madrid.

‎But at the Reale Arena, that momentum came to a crashing halt amid a storm of VAR calls, missed chances, and cruel misfortune.

‎Barcelona had three goals disallowed in the first half alone, by Fermín López, Frenkie de Jong, and Lamine Yamal, while a penalty awarded to Yamal was overturned due to an offside in the buildup.

‎Despite dominating much of the match and striking the woodwork five times, the Catalans couldn’t translate their pressure into points.

‎Real Sociedad took the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal’s far-post volley in the 32nd minute.

‎Marcus Rashford eventually equalized with a powerful header in the 70th, only for Barça’s joy to last mere seconds Gonçalo Guedes restored La Real’s lead with a sharp finish inside the area moments later.

‎Barcelona pushed desperately in the final stages, watching opportunity after opportunity slip away. Sociedad’s Carlos Soler was sent off in the 88th minute, but the hosts held firm to secure back-to-back wins and climb to eighth.

‎Barça’s defeat cuts their lead over Real Madrid to just one point.

‎The Catalans were also without Raphinha, while João Cancelo made his debut in the second half. Adding to their woes, Takefusa Kubo was stretchered off after suffering an injury.

‎Atlético Madrid Edge Alavés Thanks to Sorloth

‎Atlético Madrid’s identity under Diego Simeone has long been defined by narrow margins, defensive grit, and clinical moments. Their 1–0 win over Alavés at the Metropolitano was another chapter in that familiar story.

‎Alexander Sorloth delivered the decisive blow in the 48th minute, meeting Pablo Barrios’ cross with a firm header that clipped the far post before crossing the line.

‎It was the Norwegian forward’s sixth goal of the season and his third with a header a growing trademark.

‎Alavés, winless in five straight league matches, threatened late on but lacked the precision required to beat Atlético’s organized back line. Their struggles deepen with seven losses in their last nine matches.

‎Valencia and Celta Vigo Record Much-Needed Wins

‎Earlier in the day, Valencia took a huge step in their battle for survival with a crucial 1–0 victory at Getafe.

‎José Gayà struck in the 84th minute, ending Valencia’s six-game winless run and lifting them out of the relegation zone.

‎Getafe, meanwhile, remains on a worrying slide with six consecutive winless league games.

‎Celta Vigo continued their strong revival with a commanding 3–0 victory over Rayo Vallecano. The game turned decisively when Nobel Mendy received a red card in the 66th minute, leaving Rayo vulnerable.

‎The win marked Celta’s third consecutive triumph, propelling them to seventh place and reigniting their European football ambitions.