Girona regain LaLiga lead as Atletico Madrid go third

Shock Spanish title challengers, Girona, on Sunday, returned to the top of LaLiga with a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.

Atletico Madrid also climbed third, above struggling champions Barcelona on goal difference, with a comfortable 2-0 win at home against Valencia on Sunday night.

Michel Sanchez’s Girona moved one point clear of Real Madrid, who beat Las Palmas on Saturday, although the Catalan team have played one more match.

Portu finished well in the 20th minute to send Girona ahead in a match they largely dominated but could not make safe by finding a second goal.

Rafa Benitez’s Celta Vigo sit two points above the relegation zone in 17th place.

Girona, in the top flight for only the fourth season in their history, continue to battle with Spain’s giants for La Liga.

Girona players and staff have however been reluctant to admit the team is in contention to win the title.

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The club’s winger, Portu, said: “The main thing for us is that we shouldn’t be thinking too far ahead, that would be a mistake.

“We know that we are leaving teams behind us to get into the European places, we have to be realistic, and that’s our objective.”

Champions Barcelona, fourth, lost 5-3 at home against Villarreal on Saturday, after which coach Xavi Hernandez said he would leave the club in June.

Atletico eased above them with Samuel Lino and Memphis Depay on target against Valencia, eighth.

Lino, who played at Valencia on loan last season, finished clinically after Antoine Griezmann found him with a superb pass.

Depay added the second in the 57th minute with a diving header from Nahuel Molina’s cross, after midfielder Koke sprayed the ball out to the right flank.

“We controlled the game very well as a whole,” said satisfied Atletico manager, Diego Simeone.

Simeone added that striker Alvaro Morata had some thigh discomfort and would be tested on Monday.

Athletic Bilbao, fifth, were held to a 0-0 draw at Cadiz, while Sevilla failed to secure a home win for the eighth time in a row in the league, with a 1-1 draw against Osasuna.

The Star