La Liga: Real Madrid humiliated, Barcelona salvage draw

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Rampant Eibar humiliated European champions Real Madrid with an emphatic 3-0 win in La Liga on Saturday thanks to strikes from Gonzalo Escalante, Sergi Enrich and Kike Garcia.

Santiago Solari's first game as permanent coach of Madrid ended in his first defeat, after four consecutive victories during his time as interim manager.

On-loan Barcelona defender Marc Cucurella played a part in each of Eibar's goals as they tore apart Madrid's fragile defense and the Basques would have added more to their tally but for some fine saves by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Eibar's first ever win over Real Madrid takes them provisionally seventh on 18 points, two behind struggling Real in sixth.

A lively start at Ipurua saw Belgian Courtois tip Kike's vicious effort on to the post, while Karim Benzema had a shot cleared off the line by Cote.

Eibar took the lead after 16 minutes at the end of a brilliant break, with Cucurella finding Kike, who was denied by Courtois but Escalante bundled home the rebound from close range.

Santiago Solari's first game as permanent head coach of Real Madrid ended in his first defeat. /VCG Photo

Cucurella, deployed on the left wing by Eibar coach Jose Luis Mendilibar, is shining during his loan spell and was impossible for Madrid to handle.

The Catalan won back the ball from Alvaro Odriozola for the second goal, crossing to find Sergi Enrich who slotted home in the 52nd minute.

With Madrid on the ropes, Eibar added a third goal five minutes later, Cucurella again crossing for Enrich who nudged the ball into Kike's path and the striker gleefully slammed it home.

Eibar had chances to extend their lead and pile further misery on Madrid, with Fabian Orellana forcing a smart save from Courtois and Kike volleying narrowly wide.

Last-gasp goal saves Barca

Late in the evening, Ousmane Dembele's 90th-minute strike rescued Barcelona a point at Atletico Madrid in a 1-1 draw that kept the Catalans top of La Liga.

The French winger came on as a substitute and drove in a low shot that deflected past Jan Oblak.

Messi struggles to find space as Atletico Madrid display tremendous fighting spirit during their La Liga showdown at Wanda Metropolitano on November 24. /VCG Photo

Atletico striker Diego Costa's 77th-minute header from Antoine Griezmann's corner was the first effort on target in a dour clash and appeared to have sent the Madrid side top of the standings.

But Dembele's late contribution stopped Barcelona from falling to a second consecutive defeat and kept them one point ahead of their opponents at the summit.

Source(s): Reuters