La Liga: Real Madrid return to top, Xavi to step down

Barcelona`s head coach Xavi Hernandez reacts during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Villarreal at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain. Pic/AP, PTI

Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga on Saturday with a hard-fought 2-1 win away to Las Palmas.

Substitute Aurelian Tchouameni headed Madrid's winner following a corner on 84 minutes to complete a second half comeback, reports Xinhua.

Javi Munoz put Las Palmas ahead in the 53rd minute after good work from Sandro, who pulled the ball back for him to score, but Vinicius Jr equalized for Real Madrid in the 65th minute after a defense-splitting pass from Eduardo Camavinga.

Las Palmas looked tired in the closing minutes, but also had reason to be unhappy with the referee, who only showed Rodrygo a yellow card after he hit out at Las Palmas keeper Alvaro Valles, and then forgave him a second yellow after he hit Sergi Cardona in the face with his arm.

Girona will go back to the top if they win their match away to struggling Celta Vigo on Sunday.

FC Barcelona are now 10 points behind Real Madrid after losing 5-3 at home to Villarreal.

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Gerard Moreno, who had seen a goal controversially ruled out for offside, opened the scoring for Villarreal in the 41st minute and Ilias Akhomach doubled their lead early in the second half.

The entry of Pedri helped Barca turn the game around in 10 minutes, with goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Pedri and an own goal from Eric Bailly following a free kick.

It looked as if Barca had the game won, but Goncalo Guedes scored a fine equalizer on the break to make it 3-3 with six minutes left to play.

There was controversy in injury time when Barca were awarded a penalty, only to have it overturned by the VAR, and Villarreal then took advantage of defensive chaos to score late goals from Alexander Sorloth and Jose Luis Morales.

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Minutes after the defeat, Barca coach Xavi Hernandez said he would step down at the end of the season.

Rayo Vallecano dug deep and defended well to frustrate Real Sociedad, who could only take a 0-0 side at home to the team from the south of Madrid, with their midweek Copa del Rey efforts perhaps taking their toll.

Sergi Altamira's 45th minute shot from outside of the penalty area gave Betis a 1-0 win away to Mallorca, who lacked the freshness to turn their attacks into goals after their midweek Cup game against Girona.

On Friday night, Alaves striker Samu Omorodion scored twice and earned a penalty as his side won 3-0 away to bottom side Almeria.

Luis Rioja scored the spot kick, while an excellent display from Alaves keeper Antonio Sivera denied Almeria any way back into the match.

Alaves have won their last three games to climb into mid-table, while Almeria remain rock-bottom without a win so far in the season.

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