La Liga roundup: Barcelona post easy win, Atletico score seven, injury scare for Cristiano Ronaldo

David Villa celebrates after scoring

Barcelona 4-0 Granada

Barcelona benefitted from two penalties in the first half as they brushed aside Granada comfortably at the Nou Camp on Saturday.

Andres Iniesta, who was captain on the day for the Catalans, opened the scoring from the spot in the 20th minute after Dimitri Foulquier was adjudged to have fouled Cesc Fabregas in the penalty area.

The roles were reversed twenty minutes later, as Fabregas stepped up to take a penalty that was awarded to Barcelona after Fran Rico brought down Iniesta in the box. The Arsenal captain made no mistake and Gerard Martino’s men were 2-0 up going into half time.

In the 61th minute, Manuel Iturra of Granada was sent off after receiving his second yellow card of the game. Just 10 minutes later, Alexis Sanchez put the result beyond any doubt after he netted his 8th league goal of the season.

Pedro added another for the Catalans in the last minute of regulation time to round off an easy win for the table toppers.

Atletico Madrid 7-0 Getafe

Atletico Madrid scored five in the second half against 10 man Getafe as they thrashed the Azulones at the Vicente Calderon.

Brazilian-born Spanish international Diego Costa started the game on the bench, but joined in with the fun in the second half scoring Atletico’s fifth.

Earlier in the game, a brace from Raul Garcia, an own goal from Alberto Lopo and a goal from David Villa put the hosts in a comfortable position as Diego Simone’s team continue their impressive start to the season.

Amidst the goals, Getafe’s full back Juan Valera was sent off in the 42th minute after committing two bookable offences within a span of 9 minutes.

Late in the game, Villa and Adrian added insult to Getafe wounds and maintain Atletico’s perfect home record in the league this season in a marvellous manner.

Almeria 0-5 Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo scored again but was taken off in the second half due to an injury worry which was later played down by the Ballon d’Or favourite.

The Portuguese opened the scoring as early as the 3rd minute, but there were no more goals in the first half at the Mediterráneo as the Madrid club went into the break with just a slender 1-0 lead.

Karim Benzema eased some Real Madrid nerves as he scored in the 61st minute to give Real a two goal cushion. Carlo Ancelotti’s ran riot shortly after Benzema’s goal as Gareth Bale, Isco and Alvaro Morata were all on the scoresheet in a 10-minute riot.

After the game, Ronaldo said: “It was just a precaution, It’s nothing special. I got kicked in the first half and the muscle felt a bit sore”.

After 14 rounds of La Liga action, Barcelona lead La Liga. The Catalans have 40 points and lead second-placed Atletico by three points, with Real Madrid another three points adrift.