The third round in the Spanish league was closed tonight (Monday) with two games, when in the first meeting Athletic Bilbao achieved its second victory in a row when it defeated Cádiz 4:0 away. Atlético Madrid managed to recover from the home loss to Villarreal last week, when they beat Valencia 0:1 at the Stadion, who showed up for the match a few hours after announcing the signing of Edinson Cavani.
Cadiz – Athletic Bilbao 4:0
Ernesto Valverde’s comeback season has started very promisingly with seven points from three games and zero concedings. The one who experienced a particularly stormy evening and may come out of the game in Cadiz a little less satisfied is Ignacy Williams.
Williams, who recently moved to represent the Ghana national team ahead of the World Cup, put the visitors ahead in the 24th minute, and missed an opportunity to double the score when he missed a penalty in the 35th minute. However, the moment the Ghanaian will remember most came early in the second half, when an injury forced him to vacate his place. If the injury sidelines Williams from the team’s next game, it will end a historic streak of 236 consecutive appearances in the league without missing a game – a streak that began over six years ago.
Gorka Gorosta replaced Williams in the 54th minute, and only three minutes later scored the first league goal of his career. Alex Berenger made it 0:3 in the 79th minute, Gorosta completed a double and sealed the result of the game in extra time. As mentioned, Valverde’s team is at the top of the table, while Cadiz remains the only team in the league with a points pass.
Valencia – Atletico Madrid 1:0
Three important points for Cholo Simeone’s team after the disappointment in the previous round, when Antoine Griezmann entered again in the 63rd minute, and again scored, this time the winning goal, two minutes after entering, with a kick that splashed from Soler, changed direction and went in.
Atlético, as you know, is trying to give the Frenchman a few minutes so that they don’t have to pay Barcelona 40 million euros from his release clause, according to the contract between the teams. The contract defines a number of games in which Griezmann plays 30 minutes or more, so he enters after the 60th minute for the third game in a row. For now it works.
On the other hand, Edinson Cavani, who signed about two hours before the game, watched his friends defeated in another frustrating evening, which included a controversial disallowance of a goal for Valencia, and a red card that was canceled.
Results of the third cycle:
Girona – Celta Vigo 1:0
Betis – Osasuna 0:1
Elche – Real Sociedad 1:0
Rayo Waicano – Mallorca 2:0
Almeria – Sevilla 1:2
Getafe – Villarreal 0:0
Barcelona – Valladolid 0:4
Espanyol – Real Madrid 3:1