La Liga Roundup: Real Madrid Survives Villarreal Test As Barcelona Dominates Oviedo To Reclaim First Place

‎La Liga delivered another dramatic weekend that reshaped the top of the table yet again.

‎Real Madrid briefly climbed into first place before Barcelona’s commanding home win restored their lead, while Atletico Madrid rediscovered their attacking rhythm.

‎Across the league, controversies, comebacks, and late drama filled a gripping round of fixtures.

‎Real Madrid’s Turbulent Week Ends in Triumph at Villarreal

‎Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga with a 2–0 victory at Villarreal, powered once more by the brilliance of Kylian Mbappé.

‎The French superstar reached 21 league goals in just 20 appearances after scoring early in the second half and adding a penalty in added time. His first goal came from pouncing on a loose ball inside the box after a deflected pass from Vinícius Júnior, allowing him to fire beneath goalkeeper Luiz Júnior.

‎The decisive penalty, won by Mbappé himself after being tripped by Alfonso Pedraza, sealed a much-needed win.

‎Madrid’s recent weeks have been chaotic. The dismissal of Xabi Alonso after the Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, followed by an embarrassing Copa del Rey exit in Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut, sparked unrest among supporters.

‎Fan protests erupted during the club’s last two home games, even though both ended in victory. Despite inheriting a tense environment, Arbeloa has now overseen three straight wins.

‎His praise for Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior highlighted the duo’s importance, especially after Vinícius endured harsh jeers from home fans days earlier.

‎Villarreal created several promising moments but lacked precision in the final third. Their closest chance came from Senegal’s AFCON hero Pape Gueye, whose long-range shot narrowly missed the top corner.

‎Gerard Moreno also wasted a clear opportunity to equalize when he fired over the bar from the center of the area. Compounding their frustrations, Argentina defender Juan Foyth suffered a leg injury during the first half.

‎Villarreal, still with a game in hand, dropped to fourth place and now trails Madrid by ten points.

‎Barcelona Regains First Place with Convincing Win Over Oviedo

Barcelona responded to Madrid’s temporary leap into first place with a 3–0 victory over bottom-side Real Oviedo. The highlight of the match came in the 73rd minute when Lamine Yamal produced a stunning bicycle-kick finish from near the penalty spot.

‎Connecting perfectly with a cross from Dani Olmo, the 16-year-old sent the ball into the far corner, sparking a loud ovation from the home crowd. The goal was his first of the year and his eighth in La Liga this season.

‎Barcelona struggled through a slow opening half, something coach Hansi Flick admitted afterward. The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute when Oviedo failed to clear their lines, allowing Dani Olmo to sweep a low shot into the net.

‎Just five minutes later, poor communication between defender David Costas and goalkeeper Aarón Escandell gifted Raphinha a golden chance.

‎The Brazilian intercepted a short back-pass and lifted the ball over the charging goalkeeper to double the lead. Barcelona’s victory extended their perfect home record this season, with ten wins out of ten.

‎Real Oviedo remain winless in their last fourteen matches across all competitions. The team’s defensive fragility, combined with a lack of attacking threat, leaves them anchored to the bottom of the table.

‎Their last victory dates back to September, and Sunday’s defeat only deepened their struggle for survival.

Atletico Madrid Rediscover Their Rhythm Against Mallorca

Atletico Madrid defeated Mallorca 3–0 in what became their most complete performance of the year. For the first time in six matches, Diego Simeone’s team scored more than once.

‎Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a composed finish inside the box, marking his fourth goal of 2026.

Atletico’s second goal arrived unusually. Mateu Morey attempted to clear a cross but struck his teammate David López, sending the ball ricocheting off the defender’s face and into the net.

‎Although fortunate, the goal reflected the pressure Atletico maintained throughout the match.

‎Thiago Almada added a late third goal in the 87th minute, completing a dominant performance and securing Atletico’s second consecutive league win.

‎The result moved them three points ahead of Villarreal in the race for third place.

‎Valencia Edge Espanyol After Controversial Late Penalty

Valencia defeated Espanyol 3–2 in one of the weekend’s most dramatic finishes. The defining moment arrived deep into injury time when the referee awarded Valencia a penalty after Lucas Beltrán collided with Rubén Sánchez.

‎Replays suggested that Beltrán initiated the contact, but VAR chose not to overturn the decision. Largie Ramazani converted from the spot, extending Espanyol’s winless streak to four matches and intensifying frustration within the squad.

Sevilla, Osasuna, and a Tightening Lower Table

‎Sevilla earned a crucial 2–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao, ending a run of five matches without a win. The comeback lifted their momentum at a vital stage of the campaign.

‎Osasuna Impress at Vallecas

‎Osasuna continued their upward trajectory with a 3–1 win at Rayo Vallecano, climbing into eighth place. Their recent form has pushed them closer to European contention while tightening the already crowded midtable.

‎Only four points separate Osasuna in eighth from Getafe in seventeenth. The lower half of La Liga is now one of the most competitive in Europe, with several teams experiencing rapid shifts in momentum from week to week.

Other Notable Results Across the League

Real Sociedad Triumph Despite Going Down to Ten Men

‎Real Sociedad secured a 3–1 victory against Celta Vigo even though they played the entire second half with ten men following Duje Caleta-Car’s red card. Mikel Oyarzabal delivered a brace to extend Sociedad’s winning streak to three matches.

‎Alavés End Their Winless Streak

‎Alavés defeated Real Betis 2–1, earning their first league win in six games. The result further complicated Betis’ attempt to secure European qualification.