La Liga: Real Madrid return to winning ways after cup disappointments

Real Madrid 2-0 Levante

Real Madrid defeated Levante at the Bernabeu on Saturday thanks to two second half goals to hand Alvaro Arbeloa his first victory as the club's manager.

The visitors managed to hold their own against Madrid until half-time, as they looked to get a result that would help them move away from the 19th spot on the La Liga table.

However, defender Adrian de la Fuente fouled Kylian Mbappe in the box, who got up and sent Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan the wrong way to score his 30th club goal of the campaign.

Spain defender Raul Asencio then added a second through a bullet header following a corner kick from Turkey star Arda Guler in the 65th minute.

Los Blancos failed to add to their goal tally despite Jude Bellingham and Franco Mastantuono coming close to scoring but managed to comfortably claim all three points.

Mallorca 3-2 Athletic Club

Mallorca beat Athletic Club in a five-goal thriller at the Iberostar Stadium on Saturday as the visitors recorded their fourth league match without a win.

Hat-trick hero Vedat Muriqi opened the scoring in the fifth minute, but the visitors struck back three minutes later through Unai Gomez after a Sergi Darder through ball.

Muriqi tapped in to put Mallorca back in the lead in the 42nd-minute but Athletic again responded after three minutes, this time through winger Nico Williams just before half time.

The home side were then handed a penalty which Muriqi buried in the 69th-minute to grab the lead for the third time in the match.

Athletic were then forced to play the last 20 minutes with ten men after Gorka Guruzeta and Inigo Lekue were sent off two minutes apart, hampering the chances of another comeback as Mallorca claimed all three points.

Osasuna 3-2 Oviedo

Osasuna came back from behind to snatch a late victory against Oviedo at the El Sadar Stadium on Saturday despite ending the match with ten-men.

Oviedo took the lead through Federico Vinas in the 40th minute but Osasuna hit back just before half time via an Ante Budimir finish.

The visitors regained the lead in the 68th minute when Alberto Reina slotted into the top right corner after a Oier Luengo assist, however, the lead lasted only seven minutes before Budimir grabbed his second of the match.

The home side eventually found the winner in the second minute of injury time thanks to a Victor Munoz strike but had to finish the match with ten men after Alejandro Catena was shown a red card.

Meanwhile, Real Betis brushed past Villarreal 2-0 at the Villamarin Stadium on Saturday thanks to second half goals from Aitor Ruibal (57') and Pablo Fornals (83').

The visitors had to finish the match with ten men following the sending off of Santi Comesana in the 76th minute.

The result sees Betis solidify sixth spot on the league table whilst Villarreal remain in third spot.

In another clash at the RCDE Stadium, Espanyol failed to win their third league on the trot as they lost 2-0 Girona on Friday.

Girona striker Vladyslav Vanat converted two penalties in injury time of either half to give his side the three points and move his team up to ninth on the LaLiga table.

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