The Free Press Journal

Madrid back on top

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema scored second-half goals as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-1 to take the lead from Barcelona for the first time since the Spanish league resumed.

Ramos converted a 50thminute penalty kick and Benzema added to the lead in the 70th to move Madrid ahead of the Catalan club, which on Friday was held by fourth-place Sevilla to a 0-0 draw.

Madrid and Barcelona are level on 65 points, but Madrid has a better goal difference and a better head-to-head record against its rival.

Madrid had led five of the last seven rounds before the break, but Barcelona went in front just before the league was suspended due to the coronaviru­s pandemic more than three months ago.

Barcelona had stayed ahead after two straight victories since the league restarted. The defending champions have eight rounds left to try to retake the lead.

Madrid kept its perfect record on its return despite a lackluster first half at Sociedad. Ramos broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after Vinícius Júnior was fouled, and Benzema sealed the victory from inside the area for his third goal after the break.

The French striker, who had a double in the team's 3-0 win over Valencia on Thursday, reached 17th league goals, four behind scoring leader Lionel Messi.

It was the third straight setback for Sociedad since the league resumed, dropping the Basque Country club to seventh place. It had returned from the break in fourth place, the final Champions League spot.

Ramos was substitute­d 10 minutes after scoring. He had needed medical assistance a few moments earlier for an apparent knee injury.

Celta rout

Celta Vigo earned its first win after the break with a 6-0 rout of 10-man Alavés.

Rafinha scored twice and newly signed striker Nolito added another on his return to Celta, which was coming off a draw and a loss after the league resumed.

Jeison Murillo, Iago Aspas and Santi Mina completed the scoring to lift Celta four points clear of the relegation zone.Alavés, which dropped to 13th, played most of the match with 10 men as Martín Aguirregab­iria was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul in the 27th minute. The visitors were losing 4-0 by halftime.

Valencia rebounds Valencia also ended its postbreak slump with a 2-0 home win against Osasuna, moving closer to the European spots. Gonçalo Guedes opened the scoring with an impressive goal after getting past several defenders and sending a shot into the top corner in the 12th. He then set up the second with a long pass for Rodrigo's touch from inside the area in the 35th.

Atalanta triumph

Milan: Soccer resumed in one of the Italian cities hit hardest by the coronaviru­s pandemic with a poignant Serie A match as Atalanta gave a much-needed boost to the residents of Bergamo.

Atalanta beat Sassuolo 4-1 in its first Serie A match in 112 days and the first in Bergamo since Feb. 15.

 ??  ?? Real Madrid's Federico Valverde (L) vies with Real Sociedad's defender Robin Le Normand, at the Reale Arena-Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on Sunday
Real Madrid's Federico Valverde (L) vies with Real Sociedad's defender Robin Le Normand, at the Reale Arena-Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on Sunday

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