Real Madrid cruise while Barca ride their luck against Levante in LaLiga

MADRID – Real Madrid took another step towards the LaLiga title on Saturday with a routine 2-0 win at home to Getafe in a game that never looked in danger after Casemiro headed home Vinicius Jr’s cross in the 38th minute.,Lucas Vazquez scored a second in the 66th minute after good work from Rodrygo down the right-wing and after that the biggest story was Gareth Bale making his first appearance in the Santiago Bernabeu for almost two years, to the evident displeasure of the fans in the stadium.,On Sunday, FC Barcelona conceded three penalties, but still won 3-2 away to Levante.,Dani Alves committed the first penalty in the 50th minute, bringing down Son with an outstretched arm and Jose Luis Morales made no mistake. Marc Andre Ter Stegen saved the second penalty, given for handball five minutes later, but this time taken by Roger Marti.,Pierre Emerick Aubameyang headed Barca level five minutes later and Pedri, who had come on as a second-half substitute, made it 2-1 four minutes later.,Barca looked to have turned the game around, but with four minutes left Clement Lenglet committed a careless foul to bring down Dani Gomez to concede yet another spot-kick and Gonzalo Melero made no mistake.,The game looked to be set for a draw, but Luuk de Jong’s powerful header in the 92nd minute gave Barca a win that keeps their slim title hopes alive.,Atletico Madrid’s place in fourth is in doubt after Vedat Murique’s 69th-minute penalty gave Mallorca a 1-0 win – their first under Javier Aguirre.,Atletico, were perhaps thinking more of their Champions League return leg against Manchester City, but were well below their recent level, while Mallorca improved in defense.,Betis moved to within a point of Atletico thanks to two late goals away to Cadiz.,Ivan Alejo had put Cadiz ahead in the 57th minute, but Cristian Tello’s 77th-minute goal and Borja Iglesias’s 84th-minute penalty turned the game around and leave Cadiz back in the bottom three.,Sevilla move above Atletico Madrid after a 4-2 win at home to Granada on Friday in a game where the last two goals came in injury time.,Darwin Machis put Granada ahead in the 22nd minute, but Diego Carlos’ powerful header leveled for Sevilla 10 minutes later.,In the second half, Lucas Ocampos got Sevilla ahead on the hour, but Victor Diaz leveled in the 87th minute only for injury-time goals from Rafa Mira and Papu Gomez to give Sevilla the win.,Real Sociedad also maintained their options of a top-four finish after coming from behind to win 2-1 away to Elche.,The home side took the lead in just the third minute, but goals from Alexander Sorloth in the 31st minute and a second from Robin le Normand eight minutes later, saw the points go back to San Sebastian.,Real Sociedad also had a penalty ruled out after Alexander Isak halted in his run-up, which isn’t permitted.,Wu Lei’s first goal of the season in the 89th minute gave Espanyol a 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo in a match between two sides who are safe from relegation but have little to no chance of finishing in the top seven.,Alaves had a new coach in Julio Velazquez, but it was the same old story as the bottom of the table side lost 1-0 away to Osasuna, who claimed all three points thanks to Ante Budimir’s close-range finish in injury time.,The round of games finishes on Monday when Rayo Vallecano entertain Valencia.