Real not down in slumps now
Santiago Solari ended Real Madrid’s La Liga slump – but his side left it late before stumbling to a 2-0 win over Valladolid.
It looked like Real’s dismal run, which had seen Julen Lopetegui binned as boss, would continue as they struggled at home.
Valladolid even struck the woodwork twice as the Bernabeu giants flirted with a fourth league defeat in a row.
But Solari’s side finally made the breakthrough in 83 minutes through Kiko’s own goal before captain Sergio Ramos scored from the spot two minutes from time.
It was Real’s first win in six league matches and helped lift the gloom after Lopetegui was axed in the wake of a 5-1 thrashing at Barcelona last weekend.
City rivals Atletico were held to a 1-1 draw at Leganes as they dropped two precious points.
Antoine Griezmann looked to have sealed victory for Diego Simeone’s men with a brilliant free-kick in the second half.
But they couldn’t see the game out and Guido Carillo bundled home a leveller in 82 minutes.
Atletico will now have to lift themselves for a crunch Champions League clash with Dortmund at home.
The German leaders moved four points clear in the Bundesliga with a 1-0 win at Wolfsburg.
English kid Jadon Sancho crossed for Marco Reus to head home the winner in the first half.
And the goal increased Dortmund’s lead after champions Bayern Munich were held to a shock 1-1 draw at home against Freiburg.
Borussia defender Manuel Akanji said: “We defended really well as a team and could have scored more goals.
“But we cannot score three or four in every game. Now we look ahead to Atletico and the Champions League.”
Bayern went ahead through Serge Gnabry but switched off at the death as Lucas Holer fired home a leveller in the last minute.
The fallen champions have now failed to win at home in four games in all competitions. titions.