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PIX: Real Madrid, Barcelona suffer shock defeats in La Liga

October 18, 2020 14:23 IST

Champions Real Madrid were beaten at home by promoted Cadiz, while Barcelona fell to their first defeat in La Liga under new coach Ronald Koeman as they lost to Getafe.

Real Madrid slump to defeat by minnows Cadiz

IMAGE: Cadiz's players celebrate after Anthony Lozano scored the goal against Real Madrid in the 16th minute. Photograph: Sergio Perez/Reuters

Spanish champions Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 loss at home to promoted Cadiz on Saturday, their first La Liga defeat in over seven months.

 

Honduran forward Anthony Lozano put Cadiz ahead in the 16th minute, darting between Madrid defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane to meet a cushioned header from Alvaro Negredo and lifting the ball over keeper Thibaut Courtois into the net.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane made four substitutions at halftime in a bid to turn the game around and brought on Luka Jovic later on, the Serbian striker soon putting the ball in the net but seeing his effort ruled out for a clear offside.

Vinicius Jr missed the target with a free header, while Karim Benzema struck the bar from the edge of the area and Cadiz clung on to claim their first league win over Madrid since 1991 and their first ever away win against them.

IMAGE: Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior in action. Photograph: Sergio Perez/Reuters

The shock victory took Cadiz up to second in the league, level on 10 points with Madrid, who visit Barcelona next week in the 'Clasico'.

"If you concede an early goal against a team like this you really struggle," Madrid keeper Courtois said after his team suffered their first league defeat at home in more than a year.

"The first half was very bad, we conceded two or three chances, we had a serious discussion at halftime and made a few changes but couldn't find the goal because they were very organised and defended very well.

"We weren't at our best today and if you aren't at your best you can't expect to win games."

Zidane had hinted at rotating his squad for the match but fielded a strong team, not withstanding injuries to defenders Dani Carvajal, Alvaro Odriozola and forward Eden Hazard.

He took off captain Sergio Ramos at halftime and the defender was seen icing his knee as he watched on from the stands as Madrid, wearing an unfamiliar pink jersey despite playing at home, tried in vain to break down Cadiz, who are back in the top flight for the first time in 14 years.

"This is a historic win and we want to celebrate it," said match-winner Lozano.

Barca sink to defeat at Getafe

IMAGE: A dejected Lionel Messi after Barcelona lost their match against Getafe CF, in Getafe, on Saturday. Photograph: Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Barcelona fell to their first defeat in La Liga under new coach Ronald Koeman as they lost 1-0 at Getafe on Saturday, hours after champions Real Madrid slipped to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to promoted Cadiz.

Getafe forward Jaime Mata sent Barca goalkeeper Neto the wrong way from the penalty spot to score the only goal in the 56th minute after visiting midfielder Frenkie de Jong had been penalised for treading on Djene Dakonam's foot.

The result left Barca ninth with seven points after four games, a week before the 'Clasico' at home to Madrid, who remain top on 10 points having played five matches. Getafe's win puts them level on points with the league leaders.

Koeman made a number of changes to the Barcelona side who had drawn 0-0 at home to Sevilla in their last outing, handing first starts of the season to new arrival Sergino Dest at full back, teenage winger Pedri and forward Ousmane Dembele.

IMAGE: Getafe's players celebrate after Jaime Mata scored from the penalty spot in the 56th minute. Photograph: Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Barca had played well in the first half and almost took the lead when Lionel Messi thumped a shot against the post, while Antoine Griezmann missed an even clearer chance before halftime, blazing over when through on goal unchallenged.

Getafe defended well and should have scored at least once more through Colombian Cucho Hernandez, who struck the bar and a few minutes later raced clear on the counter-attack with only Neto to beat but shot high into the empty stand behind the goal.

Getafe's former Barca player Marc Cucurella also fluffed a chance and the Catalans could have capitalised late on to grab an equaliser but Messi missed from inside the area while Djene almost scored an own goal, glancing a cross against the post.

"Today was not our day," said Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets. "We only played well in one half and had the odd chance at goal. We knew it was going to be a tough match.

"They took the lead through a one-off moment and they got very comfortable once they were 1-0 up.

"We wanted to play with more speed and fluidity but we weren't able to, although we kept trying and we hit the woodwork right at the end."

Source: REUTERS
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