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LaLiga approaches Christmas in a day conditioned by the pandemic

Yto is Christmas in LaLiga, although there are still a few days to arrive on December 25 and even There are games left to be played this week, postponed in its day by the extension of the South American international windows. The rest of the footballers will go, Covid by means of, to their respective homes to spend a few days off, but earlier, on this day, they unfolded the party tablecloth. [Así está la clasificación de LaLiga]

They did it in a day that leaves again leader to Real Madrid despite his draw against Cádiz; and to Alaves now accompanying the Cádiz and to Levante in the relegation places. It was a day that confirmed the lukewarm improvement of Barcelona, the stagnation that the Athletic and the Real society and the candidacy of Sevilla as the only applicant (for now) to dethrone Carlo Ancelotti’s team. But, above all, it was a day with a familiar aroma.

On one side was the grandfather, that family figure who is always present but whose hierarchy is vindicated when these holidays approach. Grandpa, of course, is Jorge Molina, that fireproof forward that He did not step on the First Division until he was 28 and that now, to the 39 and 241 days, just set a vintage record. His three goals this Sunday against Mallorca they lift him up like him oldest footballer of the five major leagues that has been capable of thrashing triple in the same game.

“The goals give me more desire to continue working and to continue enjoying football,” he said after his feat the ram of Alcoy after overcoming the mark set by the Betic Joaquin a couple of seasons ago, when he scored three goals against Athletic after 38 years. A duel, by the way, that was played again this day, with a defeat for Betis after going back to Bilbao an adverse 1-2, thus stopping their respective streaks.

A youthful Barça

But let’s go back to the Christmas story and talk about children, specifically those of Xavi Hernandez. Barça won against Elche and most of the credit lies in that battery of kids whom circumstances are making essential in the Barça team. Gavi (17 years), Nico Gonzalez (19) and Ferran Jutglà (22) were the authors of the goals, in an agonizing victory in which he also stood out Ez Abde (20).

Gavi kisses the shield after scoring his first goal for Barça against Elche. Agencies


And the parents? Well yes, those who have the responsibility to bear the burden of the family and to respond to difficult situations. This Sunday he claimed Iñaki Williams, scoring two goals in the victory of Athletic against him Betis. On friday he did Iago Aspas, scoring, assisting and originating the three goals with which Celta defeated Espanyol. Saturday was the turn for Gerard Moreno, author of two of the three goals with which Villarreal took the Reale Arena.

Oyarzabal’s error

In that game, another of the parents par excellence of this League had one of those days when it is better to get out of bed. Mikel Oyarzabal saw the first red card of his career for a hard entry at the wrong time, but even in an error of that caliber showed his category as a footballer, accepting punishment, taking an interest in the fallen rival (Yéremi Pino) and asking for forgiveness. “I am the first that I know that today I have been wrong and I have to assume it and learn from it,” he said later through his networks.

Neither grandparents, nor children, nor parents are capable of helping a Athletic who everything goes wrong this course. On Saturday he lost at Sánchez Pizjuán after deserving more in the second half, but the last goal from Ocampos frustrated his ambitions of at least adding to the team that ranks as only threat to Real Madrid, which surpasses him by six points, although with one more game played.

Leader without goal

The distance could have been greater, but the Whites were unable to overcome the resistance of a Cádiz that needed such a stimulus. They took out the ones from Alvaro Cervera a point from the Bernabéu after surviving a bombardment of 36 shots of the leader, although only nine between the suits. It does not serve as an excuse for Madrid the Covid outbreak that has left him without six footballers to explain the brake to its good dynamics.

For the rest, Getafe took a breath and comes out of the relegation after beating Osasuna in the last gasp thanks to a goal from Poveda and Rayo continued with his dream season executing the Alaves in Vallecas. The day closes this Monday with the derby of the city of Valencia in Orriols.

And, of course, we were talking about Covid, whose incidence in Primera is currently low, but which is already wreaking havoc in other categories. In second, yesterday Lugo announced 23 positives and 27 confined due to close contact, a massacre that forced the suspension of the match that was to face him this Monday against the Almeria. In England, the Premier League she was forced to suspend six of the 10 matches of the day. So, you know, watch out for Covid.

Results of the 18th round

Celta 3 – Spanish 1

Ray 2- Alavés 0

Real Sociedad 1 – Villarreal 3

Barcelona 3 – Elche 2

Sevilla 2 – Atlético 1

Granada 4 – Mallorca 1

Athletic 3 – Betis 2

Getafe 1 – Osasuna 0

Real Madrid 0 – Cádiz 0

Levante-Valencia (Monday, 9:00 p.m.)

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