Madrid go top, Levante win at Sevilla (PA) Saturday 25 January 2014 Second-half goals by Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema saw off Granada 2-0 and fired Real Madrid to the top of the Primera Division for the first time since May 2012. Newly crowned FIFA Ballon dOr winner Ronaldo opened the scoring for the hosts after 57 minutes and then played a part in Benzemas goal, which wrapped up the points 19 minutes later. This was not a vintage performance from Madrid, who were playing their seventh game in January, and they were frustrated for large parts of the game by a tough Granada side who gave them little space to counter-attack until late in the second half. Carlo Ancelottis side temporarily move two points clear of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona at the leagues summit, and although they could be third again by Sunday, the Italians aim of going to sleep on top of the league was realised. Valencia and Espanyol shared the spoils in an entertaining game at Mestalla which ended 2-2. In a frantic start to the game, Jhon Cordoba opened the scoring for the visitors inside three minutes, but Paco Alcacer levelled only four minutes later. A header from Jonas put Juan Antonio Pizzis side in front on 32 minutes, but Cordoba won a penalty just before the break, allowing Sergio Garcia to equalise. The two teams remain as they were before the game in the Primera Division table, with Espanyol one point above Valencia in eighth place. Real Valladolid gave their survival hopes a welcome boost with a 1-0 win over high-fliers Villarreal. Jesus Ruedas first-half goal divided the two sides and saw the hosts halt a run of four matches without a win as they look to escape the bottom three. Defeat also ended a three-match winning streak for Villarreal and serving a small blow to their hopes of claiming a UEFA Champions League place. Levante moved up to eighth following their 3-2 victory away to Sevilla in seventh. The home side twice took the lead through Coke and Ivan Rakitic but were pegged back soon after each goal by David Barral and then Loukas Vyntra. However, Rakitic will be rueing his 58th-minute penalty miss as Junior Simao netted Levantes winner deep into the second half to hand his side all three points. Both sides ended the match with ten men after Sevilla substitute Jairo Samperio and Levante defender Nikos Karabelas were sent off in the 90th minute.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:19:55 +0000
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