Sociedad stay on top in Spain as Courtois error costs Madrid

A DIEGO MARADONA-inspired Lionel Messi helped Barcelona get back to winning ways in La Liga as the Catalan club, and former home to the recently-passed Argentina legend, climbed to seventh in the table with a 4-0 win at home to Osasuna.

The Barca captain, donning the jersey of boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys in tribute to Maradona, was the fourth different scorer on a day that Antoine Griezmann found his form again, topped off with a stunning volley for Barca’s second goal.

Barcelona fans worried about their club’s early slump in form and financial situation – showcased by the €122 million in player pay cuts agreed earlier in the week – can take some comic relief from Thibaut Courtois’s howler that cost reigning champions Real Madrid dearly in their 2-1 loss at home to Deportivo Alaves.

The Belgian ’keeper, under pressure from striker Lucas Perez, passed the ball directly to the feet of Joselu, who controlled Courtois’ gift and shot into an unguarded net from 25 yards out to put Alaves 2-0 up.

The mistake was all the more unbearable for Madridistas because there were three defenders Courtois could have easily off-loaded the ball to, without attracting too much pressure, rather than attempt to play the ball into midfield.

Despite Casemiro’s late consolation goal, Los Blancos left the Basque Country with their third loss of the season – already equalling their tally from last year – and Eden Hazard’s injury added to Zinedine Zidane’s woes.

Real Sociedad, who haven’t won a title since 1982, are still top of the table after a 1-1 draw with Villarreal, but Atletico Madrid, who won at Valencia 1-0 on Saturday, are one point behind, unbeaten in the league and with two games in hand.

In Italy, unbeaten AC Milan remain top of Serie A as captain Alessio Romagnoli scored in their 2-0 win over Fiorentina while Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains injured and is due to miss Milan’s clash with Celtic on Thursday. In the ‘Derby del Sole,’ or derby of the Sun, local boy Lorenzo Insigne (pictured) scored a free-kick in the first half for Napoli as they defeated their northern rivals Roma 4-0.

Napoli unveiled a special commemorative kit for their first game since the death of Maradona, in the style of an Argentina strip, in their first game since announcing that they are renaming their ground after him. The club was home to Maradona from 1984 until 1991, where the Argentinian won the club’s only two Serie A titles, as well as one Italian Cup and a UEFA Cup.