A late Julian Alvarez goal earned Atletico Madrid a dramatic 1-0 win at Celta Vigo on Thursday to lift them to third in LaLiga.

Atletico looked to be heading to a second straight draw, but the substitute was alert in the final minute of the 90 to ensure they returned to Madrid with all three points.

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak was key as Celta suffered their first home defeat of the season, producing an excellent save to deny Iago Aspas at his near post just before the break.

He kept his side in it throughout a poor showing, also keeping out Borja Iglesias twice after the break as Celta struggled to find their clinical edge.

But big-money signing Alvarez struck in the dying minutes, stretching out a leg to meet Antonie Griezmann's pinpoint cross to poke his second goal of the season past Vicente Guaita.

Data Debrief: Atleti ride their luck

It was not a vintage performance for Atletico by any stretch of the imagination, which was only confirmed as Oblak was awarded player of the match at the end of the contest.

The visitors only had two shots on target (from eight attempts), with both of those coming in the final 11 minutes as they accumulated just 0.63 expected goals.

Celta's profligacy came back to haunt them though as they had 10 shots, four of which hit the target, with three of those classed as big chances. They created an xG of 1.37, but just could not find a way past Oblak.

Despite Barcelona maintaining their perfect start to the LaLiga season with a 1-0 win over Getafe on Wednesday, head coach Hansi Flick insisted they can improve.

Robert Lewandowski's 19th-minute strike was enough to secure the win for the Blaugrana, but the hosts should have won by a more comfortable scoreline. 

At the end of the contest, Barca accumulated an expected goals (xG) total of 1.92 from their 15 shots, but only four of those were on target. 

But Flick, who became the third Barca coach to win his first seven LaLiga games after Gerardo Martino in 2013 and Ernesto Valverde in 2017, insisted his side were still very much a work in progress. 

"To get seven wins is perfect, but we have to do some things better," Flick said. 

"Today we had a very good mentality. For me it's a good starting point to improve. 

"I've been told that it's always like that against Getafe, they are very good in defence, but I'm very proud of my players and how they fought for 95 minutes."

The result saw Barca extend their lead to rivals Real Madrid at the summit of the standings to four points ahead of facing Osasuna this weekend. 

It was also a straightforward game for the hosts' stand-in goalkeeper Inaki Pena, who kept a clean sheet and was forced to make just one save during the contest. 

Pena replaced Marc-Andre ter Stegen between the sticks after the German international came off injured during Barca's 5-1 win over Villarreal last week. 

The extent of Ter Stegen's injury was confirmed shortly after, with the 32-year-old undergoing knee surgery on Monday and he is now expected to miss the rest of the season. 

Reports suggest that Barca are considering welcoming Wojciech Szczesny as an emergency back-up, despite the Pole calling time on his career earlier this year. 

However, Flick refused to discuss those rumours linking Szczesny to a shock move to the Camp Nou. 

"I only speak of the players we have in the team. Inaki Pena is our number one goalkeeper and I'm happy. This is what it's worth," Flick said.

"We have Inaki Pena who is 25-years-old but the rest of the goalkeepers are very young, so if something happens we have to have experience."

Girona coach Michel said his side deserved more after they drew 0-0 with Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga.

Winless in four consecutive games in all competitions, last year's surprise challengers Girona dominated proceedings with over 70% of possession but were wasteful, missing several clear chances.

Indeed, Girona had three big chances (defined by Opta as an opportunity from which a player would reasonably be expected to score), and accumulated 2.22 expected goals (xG).

Michel said: "Football is about goals and we didn't score. But the team was fine out there, we were able to push Rayo back against the ropes and played a very good game.

"The team deserved to win, I approve of the team's performance today. I have no doubts. We lacked quality and determination up front, but we generated enough to win today.

"They didn't put us under pressure, they didn't steal from us and we had three or four very clear chances to score. On Saturday's 2-0 loss against Valencia we weren't good, we didn't generate anything and I was worried.

"Today we did, perhaps not as much for what we could have had, but we did spend a lot of time in the attacking zone. With the flow of play we had, we should have shot 25 times, not only 12."

Girona are 12th in the standings on eight points, 13 behind leaders Barcelona. They visit ninth-placed Celta Vigo on Sunday before hosting Feyenoord in the Champions League next week.

Robert Lewandowski's first-half strike proved enough as LaLiga leaders Barcelona overcame Getafe 1-0 on Wednesday.

Hansi Flick's side were wasteful at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, but ultimately got over the line to make it seven league wins out of seven matches to start the season.

Barca were without a glut of stars due to injury, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is set to be out for the rest of the season, joining Dani Olmo, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Fermin Lopez and Andreas Christensen on the treatment table.

The Blaugrana also rested Pedri, though his absence was not felt as Lewandowski pounced on David Soria's error to put the hosts ahead after 19 minutes.

Barca had 16 attempts in total and mustered 1.92 expected goals, yet could not find a second to put the result beyond all doubt.

Winless Getafe, though, could not make Barca pay as they slipped to a fourth defeat of the season.

Data Debrief: Lewy breaks Getafe duck

Lewandowski's winner was his first goal against Getafe in LaLiga, at the fourth attempt. He had seven shots across his previous three league appearances against them without finding the net.

Flick, meanwhile, is the third Barca coach to win his first seven LaLiga games, after Gerardo Martino in 2013 and Ernesto Valverde in 2017.

Getafe coach Jose Bordalas, on the other hand, has lost 10 of his 13 games against Barca in LaLiga (W1 D2). Only against Real Madrid (11) has he suffered more defeats in the competition.

Girona missed the chance to climb the early-season LaLiga standings after being held to a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano on Monday. 

A dominant first-half saw the hosts enjoy 69.1% possession, but register just one shot on target, with Yaser Asprilla unable to test Augusto Batalla. 

The Colombian again went close after the break, striking a fierce left-footed effort that cannoned off the crossbar as Girona continued to ramp up the pressure. 

Cristhian Stuani missed two golden opportunities to net his third league goal of the season late on, firing both efforts from close range off target. 

The hosts continued to push for a first win in four games in all competitions, but Miguel Gutierrez and Yangel Herrera were unable to find the back of the net. 

Girona almost found themselves behind in the 88th minute when Alvaro Garcia was put through, but he was unable to score with just Rayo Vallecano's second strike of the contest. 

Data Debrief: Blanquivermells fire a blank, again

After pushing Real Madrid all the way for the LaLiga title last year, Michel's side have managed just two wins from seven league games, scoring once in their last four fixtures in all competitions. 

The departure of last season's top scorer, Artem Dovbyk, has left a huge hole at the top end of the pitch, with Girona registering an expected goals (xG) total of 2.22 from their 11 shots, only one of which was on target. 

Girona also missed three big chances at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, with their fortunes in front of goal needing to improve if they are to replicate last campaign's heroics once again.

Atletico Madrid's meeting with Celta Vigo on Thursday gives them less time to prepare for their derby with Real Madrid, with Diego Simeone looking to reduce player workloads in training.

Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 on Tuesday to move up to second in LaLiga and have five days to prepare for Sunday's clash with Los Colchoneros, the only team to beat them last season.

Atleti managed a 3-1 win over Los Blancos last September – which remains Madrid's most recent league loss – before dumping them out of the Copa del Rey in January.

The scheduling of Thursday's trip to Celta puts Simeone's men at something of a disadvantage to their rivals, causing them to keep a close eye on players' conditioning.

"We are trying to manage it in the best way possible," Simeone said. 

"We have not changed much, trying to make the training sessions based on the players' workloads so that they arrive at the match in the best possible way."

Fixture congestion is an ongoing concern in European football, with the packed calendar being repeatedly criticised amid a spate of injuries to high-profile players, most notably Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

"They are the ones who manage everything, all the rest of us are there to accompany them, to try to manage," Simeone said. 

"But the only ones who can create change are the footballers, because they are the ones who play."

Meanwhile, Simeone has backed new strikers Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez to come good, with both players having just one goal apiece so far this term.

"I have no doubt that with time and the partnerships that we will create, they will perform better. It is our job to make them feel better and it is their job to transmit to us those partnerships that are generated in football," Simeone said.

Wojciech Szczesny will listen to Barcelona's offer to tempt him out of retirement as it "would be disrespectful" not to.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday that Szczesny is close to joining Barcelona to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The former Poland international, who only announced his retirement last month after leaving Juventus, is set to undergo a medical this week.

While Szczesny fell short of confirming an agreement is in place with Barca, he indicated he would be open to a swift return to the sport.

Speaking to Spanish outlet SPORT, the goalkeeper said: "I have a lot of respect for Barca's history; it is one of the best clubs in the world. 

"I understand the difficult situation that's arisen after Marc-Andre Ter Stegen's injury. It'd be disrespectful of me not to consider this option."

Barcelona are able to sign a free agent due to the severity of the injury sustained by first-choice goalkeeper Ter Stegen.

The German is set to miss a number of months after undergoing surgery this week on a knee injury suffered against Villarreal last weekend.

Szczesny agreed to mutually terminate his contract with Juve in August after a breakdown in negotiations over a move to Saudi club Al-Nassr.

The 34-year-old, who played twice for Poland in their group-stage exit from Euro 2024, then went on to announce his retirement from playing.

He won 11 major trophies during his career in England and Italy, while playing 84 times for Poland and featuring in seven major tournaments.

Szczesny joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2006, making 181 first-team appearances and winning two FA Cups in 2014 and 2015.

After spending two seasons on loan at Roma, he then joined Juventus in 2017, winning eight major trophies, including three Serie A titles.

Between his Serie A debut in August 2015 and the start of this season, the Pole boasted the fifth-most saves among goalkeepers to play at least 50 times (481) and the fifth-best save percentage in that time (72.55%).

Only two goalkeepers in Serie A bettered Szczesny's 200 league appearances since his debut, though he conceded considerably fewer goals (179) than both Andrea Consigli (411) and Lukasz Skorupski (301) during that time. 

Should he join Barcelona, Szczesny will provide competition for Inaki Pena, who replaced Ter Stegen against Villarreal is likely to start in goal against Getafe on Wednesday. 

Kylian Mbappe is likely to miss this weekend's Madrid derby after picking up an injury in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Deportivo Alaves on Tuesday. 

Mbappe, who scored Los Blancos' second goal of the night, was replaced by Arda Guler in the 80th minute and was seen gesturing to his thigh as he left the pitch. 

The Frenchman's sensational start to life in the Spanish capital has seen him score seven goals in his first nine appearances in all competitions.

Mbappe has also produced more shots on target (19) than anyone in LaLiga so far, netting five of the 10 big chances he has been presented with. 

But head coach Carlo Ancelotti could be without his star striker against Atletico Madrid this weekend. 

"Following tests carried out today by Real Madrid's Medical Services on our player Kylian Mbappe, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg," Real said in a statement.

"His progress will be monitored."

Real's midweek victory moved them to within a point of league leaders Barcelona, who face Getafe on Wednesday. 

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was not unduly worried after his side were made to survive a late rally in their 3-2 victory over Alaves in LaLiga on Tuesday.

Goals from Lucas Vazquez, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo had Madrid cruising at the Santiago Bernabeu, only for Alaves to threaten a comeback with two goals in as many minutes late on.

Los Blancos held on for victory in what was Ancelotti's 300th game in charge, making him just the second coach to reach that milestone with the club after Miguel Munoz (605 matches).

Madrid have already dropped points twice this season to trail Barcelona in LaLiga, but Ancelotti preferred to focus on the positives after Tuesday's game.

"This is football and when you think the game is over, you get distracted and allow your rival to score, you give them a confidence boost while your own confidence is shaken," he said. 

"It's something that happens all the time in football and it won't stop happening. Sure, we don't want that to happen to us, nobody does, but we need to highlight that for over 80 minutes our team played really, really well and that is what gives us confidence moving forward.

"For over an hour the team played very well, looking for opportunities in different ways, in transition, filtering passes through the opponent's lines... 

"The team is improving, it's good for us because the schedule is very demanding. Sunday's game [against Atletico Madrid] will also be very demanding."

Ancelotti added he was delighted with Mbappe's progress since his move from Paris Saint-Germain, praising his combination with Jude Bellingham for the second goal. 

"Mbappe is playing great, we are doing really well in attack," Ancelotti said.

"Bellingham is growing, he gave the assist to Mbappe and played a very complete game. He needs to get used to playing a bit more inside the box, like he did last year.

"It's more complicated against a team with a low block like Alaves. What I ask Bellingham is to do that kind of work, not to score goals. With the players we have, we can score at any moment." 

Madrid's opening goalscorer Vazquez, meanwhile, told Los Blancos to sharpen up after their late scare.

"It's a shame that with the performance that we were putting throughout the match, it had to finish the way that it did," Vazquez told Real Madrid TV.

"We played a great game until the 88th minute, when two lapses in concentration led to two goals and we had to suffer a bit more than we should have.

"We didn't deserve this ending, with the game we had played, but let's look on the bright side, we did a lot of things right."

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has surprisingly announced his retirement from football, just two months after joining Como.

Varane left United as a free agent at the end of last season after three years at Old Trafford, having endured an injury-hit 2023-24 campaign.

He previously spent 10 years with Madrid, winning LaLiga three times and the Champions League on four occasions, also playing a key role as France won the 2018 World Cup.

Varane joined newly promoted Serie A side Como, who are managed by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, in July but suffered a knee injury on his debut last month.

Following that setback, the centre-back has decided to hang up his boots at the age of just 31.

He wrote in an Instagram post: "They say all good things must come to an end. 

"In my career I have taken on many challenges, rose to occasion after occasion, almost all of it was supposed to be impossible.

"I hold myself to the highest standard, I want to go out strong, not just holding on to the game. It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct. 

"Desire and needs are two different things. I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it's the moment to stop and hang my boots up with my final game winning a trophy at Wembley.

"I have no regrets, I wouldn't change a thing. I have won more than I could have even dreamed of, but beyond the accolades and trophies, I am proud that I have stuck to my principles of being sincere and have tried to leave everywhere better than I found it. 

"And so, a new life begins off the pitch. I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads. Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon."

Real Madrid fended off a late comeback from Deportivo Alaves to win 3-2 and ensure Carlo Ancelotti tasted victory in his 300th match.

Reigning LaLiga champions Madrid were cruising to victory at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday as goals from Lucas Vazquez, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo put them 3-0 up.

Carlos Benavidez and Kike Garcia scored in the 85th and 86th minutes for Alaves but Madrid held on to win a match they had mostly dominated.

Madrid opened the scoring under a minute after kick-off when Vinicius Junior took a long Federico Valverde pass in his stride and ran up the left channel before setting up full-back Vazquez, who fired home from close range.

Los Blancos extended their lead in the 40th minute when Mbappe played a neat one-two with Jude Bellingham before cutting inside and slotting in a tidy finish, keeping up his run of form in front of goal.

Rodrygo scored Madrid's third three minutes after the restart, placing a low shot under the goalkeeper's legs to finish off a quick counter-attack.

However, both Benavidez and Garcia capitalised on some poor defending to get Alaves back in the contest and set up a grandstand finale.

Thankfully for Ancelotti on his milestone game, Madrid regained their composure to get over the line.

Data Debrief: Madrid close in on Barca record

It is now 39 games unbeaten for Madrid in LaLiga. They are just the second team in the history of the competition to have such a long unbeaten run, after Barcelona in 2018 (43 games).

Ancelotti, meanwhile, was able to celebrate his landmark match in the end. He is just the second coach in Madrid history to oversee 300 matches in charge, after Migue Munoz.

The Italian has won 216 games, drawing 45 times and losing on 39 occasions.

Michel admitted that Girona are no longer the same team that took LaLiga by storm last season and urged them to rediscover their identity.

Girona were the surprise package last season, going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid and Barcelona in the title race before eventually finishing third in LaLiga.

However, the club let go of Golden Boot winner Artem Dovbyk, who scored 24 LaLiga goals last season, and influential midfielder Aleix Garcia in the transfer window.

Though they brought in reinforcements, including Donny van de Beek from Manchester United, they have not yet found their rhythm, losing each of their last three games in all competitions. 

In that run, which includes a 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League debut, they have managed a combined eight shots on target from 20 attempts, and netted just one goal, failing to score in each of the last two. 

"Things happen for a reason," Michel told a news conference. "Our reality is that we have lost three games in a row, and it is difficult because people expect the team to win.

"Right now we are not the team we were last year, we are another one."

"With the ball, we are not hurting the opponent and this means that we have to suffer. We must play with fewer touches and be able to look up and for that I need high intensity. This is a machine that has to work now.

"Right now we are 12th and that is our reality. We have to improve to win games continuously as people expect. We have to go through the process, and we will suffer."

Winger Portu is available after an ankle knock, giving Michel a fully fit squad as he prepares to face the club where he spent most of his playing career and took his first steps into management.

"It's a special match which I never enjoy. It will always be like this," Michel added. "[Rayo] is the club where I have lived, and my life is in Vallecas.

"They are a great team in every way. They are the team that presses the most and best in the league, and they have a higher intensity than anyone else. It isn't easy to create scoring chances against them."

Barcelona will be without injured goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for several months, but Hansi Flick is confident they have a capable deputy in Inaki Pena.

Germany international Ter Stegen underwent a successful operation on Monday after suffering a complete rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee.

The 32-year-old suffered the injury in Barca's 5-1 win at Villarreal in LaLiga on Sunday and is expected to be out for at least eight months, according to Spanish media reports.

Despite Ter Stegen's season likely being over, Flick is remaining upbeat, backing academy product Pena to handle the step up.

"Inaki is doing very well, in pre-season too. He has worked very hard to be here. He is focused and ready to play," Flick said ahead of Wednesday's home game versus Getafe.

"We are confident but we also have to look at what we do because the players at the back are very young. For the moment, we don't feel under pressure and we trust in Inaki."

Having joined Barcelona's La Masia academy aged 13, 25-year-old Pena has made 23 first-team appearances, conceding 39 goals and keeping five clean sheets.

Pena made 10 league appearances for Barca last term, with his save percentage of 56.4% falling some way short of Ter Stegen's 73.5%.

Pena also conceded 17 goals from 13.89 expected goals on target (xGoT) faced, giving him an underperformance of 3.1 in terms of goals prevented. Ter Stegen, by contrast, conceded 27 times from 27.84 xGoT faced.

The Catalans were already without new signing Dani Olmo and fellow midfielders Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal and Fermin Lopez, plus defenders Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, due to injuries.

However, they have made a perfect start to the season under Flick, with six straight wins putting them top of LaLiga, four points ahead of reigning champions Real Madrid in second.

But the former Bayern Munich boss is striving for more, adding: "We analysed the game against Villarreal and we saw a lot of things that can be improved. 

"We haven't reached the end of the road. You can always do more. We are moving forward step by step."

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has no plans to end his glittering career anytime soon as he prepares to take charge of Los Blancos for the 300th time, versus Alaves in LaLiga on Tuesday.

Ancelotti has taken charge of Madrid 299 times across two spells, overseeing 119 games between 2013 and 2015, winning the Copa del Rey in 2013-14 and also leading the Spanish giants to their long-awaited 10th European Cup/Champions League crown.

Since returning to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2021, Ancelotti has overseen a further 180 matches, leading the side to two more Champions League successes, two domestic title triumphs and a further Copa del Rey win.

Ancelotti – who last season became the first coach to win the European Cup/Champions League on five occasions – turned 65 in June, but he intends to coach at the top level for some time yet.

"I'm not thinking about my future whatsoever, I love this job," Ancelotti told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

"I have been lucky enough to coach great clubs, tomorrow it will be my 300th game at the best club in the world, it is something special to be in this dugout, to do it 300 times is not quite a miracle, but it is almost a miracle.

"Sure, you can't compare my tiredness to that of the players. There is pressure, responsibility, but I love it. At the moment I don't see myself as having an expiry date, I'd love to stay here for many years to come."

Madrid's only two losses across all competitions last season were both to local rivals Atletico Madrid, a 3-1 defeat in LaLiga on September 24, 2023, and a 4-2 extra-time loss in the Copa del Rey in January.

Should they avoid defeat versus Alaves on Tuesday, they will have completed a full calendar year unbeaten in LaLiga.

They have gone 38 league matches without defeat, closing in on the record held by Barcelona, who went 43 games without losing between April 2017 and May 2018.

The coach praised the resilience of his players, who have repeatedly found ways to salvage results despite injuries biting hard in recent weeks.

"Some records are about winning and others are about not losing. We are coming from a very long run and that means a lot of success, because draws often help you a lot," Ancelotti said.

"I think that in football, if you can't win, at least don't lose. Sometimes a draw gives a better feeling than a defeat. 

"Defeat gives options to improve, that's true. But our success in the Champions League in the past lies in our solidity, in the way we compete.

"It has taken us a while to find this solidity at the start of the season, but we are going to find it, because the mental attitude of the players is very good."

Madrid are second in the LaLiga standings on 14 points, four behind leaders Barcelona, who host Getafe on Wednesday.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery after suffering a complete rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee.

The Germany international sustained the injury during Barcelona's 5-1 win at Villarreal in LaLiga on Sunday.

Ter Stegen fell badly after jumping for a ball just before half-time and was visibly in pain as he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher.

All of his weight fell on his right leg as he injured the same knee on which he had already undergone two surgeries in recent years.

He is reportedly set to be out for around seven months, meaning his season could well be over. 

"Tests carried out on the first team player Marc ter Stegen confirm that he has a complete rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee," Barcelona said in a statement.

"On Monday afternoon he will undergo a surgical process and once complete a new update will be released."