ARTEM ATTACK
Dovbyk scores hat-trick as Girona thrash Sevilla to reclaim Laliga top spot
Girona, Spain - Artem Dovbyk scored a quick-fire, first-half hattrick to help Girona to a 5-1 home win over Sevilla on Sunday as the hosts reclaimed top spot in Laliga.
Surprise package Girona sit alone at the summit with 52 points, one ahead of Real Madrid, who beat Almeria earlier on Sunday and have one game in hand. Sevilla remain 17th with 16 points, one clear of the relegation zone.
With the win, the Catalan side also set an all-time club points record for a top flight season.
“We are very happy because we have achieved one of our goals, which was to reach 52 points, the first was to avoid relegation,” Girona coach Michel told DAZN.
“The third objective was to finish in the top three, now we have the target of reaching European competitions and step by step we will see if we can do it.”
Madrid beat Almeria
A Dani Carvajal strike in the ninth-minute of stoppage time rescued Real Madrid, earning them a 3-2 comeback win at home against bottom side Almeria on Sunday in a frantic Laliga tussle that was marked by VAR controversy.
Lowly Almeria, who remained winless after 21 Laliga matches this season, grabbed a two-goal lead with a quick strike from Largie Ramazani inside the first minute and a brilliant volley from distance by Edgar Gonzalez in a dismal first half for Real Madrid who didn't record a single shot on target.
Real reduced the deficit in the 56th minute with a Bellingham penalty awarded for a debatable handball after a lengthy VAR check.
However, Almeria had a Sergio Arribas effort from a counter
Almeria, who are winless after 21 Laliga matches, grabbed a two-goal lead with a quick strike from Largie Ramazani inside the first minute and a brilliant volley from distance by Edgar Gonzalez
attack ruled out a little later after another long VAR check.
Referee Francisco Maeso ruled there was an infringement in the build-up when Almeria midfielder Dion Lopy was harshly adjudged to have fouled Bellingham.
Five minutes later, Maeso first ruled out Real Madrid's equaliser for a Vinicius Jr handball before awarding the goal after deciding it was off the shoulder following another VAR review.
“Today we were robbed,” Almeria's Gonzalo Melero told DAZN.
“It pains me to say it, but there's no other way to take it. And that's not the first this year.”