Barca thrash Real Madrid, Villarreal move to third in La Liga

MADRID - FC Barcelona took a firm grip on La Liga with a 4-0 win away to Real Madrid in the first 'Clasico' of the season on Saturday night.

The win lifts Barca six points clear of Real Madrid, while ending their rivals' 42-game unbeaten run in La Liga, one short of Barca's record of 43 games without defeat.

A dynamic opening 45 minutes ended goalless, with Real Madrid, and especially Kylian Mbappe, continually falling into Barca's offside trap, before Robert Lewandowski tilted things to Barca's way with goals after 54 and 56 minutes.

The first goal saw him slot past goalkeeper Andriy Lunin after a through ball from Marc Casado, while his second was a textbook header from Alejandro Balde's cross.

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha finished the rout as Real Madrid left space in midfield and defense as they tried to get back into the game.

Villarreal move up to third thanks to Ayoze Perez's late winner away to Valladolid.

Thierno Barry put Villarreal ahead in the 29th minute with a flying header and the visitors would have been further ahead, but didn't make it due to several important saves from home goalkeeper Karl Hein and some luck with the woodwork, before Mamadou Sylla leveled for Valladolid from the penalty spot after he had been fouled in the area.

However, Ayoze scored six minutes from time with a header from Alex Baena's pinpoint cross.

Rayo Vallecano played for over 70 minutes with 10 men after Abdul Mumin was shown a red card for a foul on Alaves striker Toni Martinez, but still took all three points after a combination of good saves from goalkeeper Augusto Batalla and a shot from Gerard Gumbau. Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera tipped the shot onto the bar, but it bounced down and into the goal off his back.

Alex Munoz's 42nd-minute goal made it two wins in two games for Las Palmas since the arrival of Diego Martinez as first-team coach as they won 1-0 at home to Girona.

Munoz finished at the far post as Las Palmas took advantage of an already injury-hit Girona going down to 10 men as defender Alejandro Frances was off the pitch receiving treatment.

Sevilla will be a lot happier with their trip to Barcelona on Friday than last weekend, as they won 2-0 away to Espanyol to help put their 5-1 thrashing against FC Barcelona behind them.

Dodi Lukebakio scored both of Sevilla's goals in the first half to leave Espanyol in trouble near the relegation zone.