Danjuma opened the scoring from a penalty kick in the 35th minute, which was awarded after Manu Trigueros was drawn to the ground. It was his first league goal since October. At the beginning of this year, he missed a number of games due to an injury.
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Four minutes after the opening goal, the former NEC player doubled the lead. Two Granada defenders got in each other’s way after a kick by Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, after which Danjuma could only approach Luis Maximiano’s goal and finished in a controlled manner. After more than an hour, Luis Milla did something back on behalf of Granada, also from a penalty. Villarreal was awarded another penalty after Raúl Torrente’s handball. Danjuma scored again and it was his eighth league goal of the season. Moi Gomez made it 1-4 in stoppage time.
Rafael van der Vaart was the last Dutchman to score a hat-trick in the Spanish football league on behalf of Real Madrid in 2008.
Real Madrid strengthens leading position
Real Madrid has strengthened the lead. The club won 3-0 in their own stadium against Deportivo Alaves. Marco Asensio scored after more than an hour of play, Vinicius Junior signed for 2-0 in the final phase. Karim Benzema prepared both goals and the French striker converted a penalty himself in injury time.
Real could use a success. The club drew against Villarreal (1-1) last Saturday and lost to Paris-Saint Germain (1-0) in the Champions League last Tuesday. Real now have a seven-point lead over Sevilla, the number 2 in the ranking who has an away game against Espanyol on the program on Sunday.
Felix helps Atletico on their way against Osasuna
Atletico Madrid have brought the away game against Osasuna to a good end: 0-3. Joao Felix opened the score in the third minute and was also at the basis of Luis Suarez’s 0-2. Angel Correa determined the final score for the reigning champion of Spain in the final phase.
Atletico thus somewhat took revenge for the painful home defeat (0-1) last Wednesday against Levante, the last La Liga. The club climbed to a provisional fourth place in the rankings due to the victory over Osasuna. Atletico will play their home game against Manchester United in the eighth finals of the Champions League on Wednesday.
View the results, standings and the program in La Liga here
ITALY: AC Milan chokes in closing and puts the lead on the line
AC Milan have put the lead of the Serie A on the line. In the away match against Salernitana, the club ended up in a draw: 2-2. Internazionale is the new frontrunner on Sunday when it wins the home game against Sassuolo.
Junior Messias helped AC Milan to the opening goal in the fifth minute. Federico Bonazzoli equalized for Salernitana in the 29th minute. Milan Djuric surprisingly put the home side at 2-1 in the 72nd minute, after which AC Milan got no further than Ante Rebic’s equalizer.
View the results, standings and the program in the Serie A here