La Liga: Barca fires Koeman, 4 groups tied after Real Madrid attracts

Draws by Real Madrid and Sevilla left 4 groups tied for the lead within the Spanish league. Another Barcelona loss left coach Ronald Koeman out of a job.
The Catalan membership fired Koeman shortly after the group’s 1-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, three days after a a 2-1 residence defeat to rival Madrid within the “clasico” on the Camp Nou Stadium.
Barcelona’s fifth league lack of the season left it winless in away matches and solely ninth within the standings with 15 factors from 10 video games. Barcelona had not gone 5 consecutive away matches with out a win in almost 20 years.
Club president Joan Laporta knowledgeable Koeman of his resolution after the loss, and Xavi Hernandez turned the favourite to take over the membership in its first season with out Lionel Messi in almost twenty years.
Barcelona mentioned Koeman “will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday.”
Madrid was held 0-0 by Osasuna at residence, whereas Sevilla couldn’t handle greater than a 1-1 consequence at Mallorca, lacking its probability to take sole possession of the lead. Real Betis joined them on the prime with a 4-1 win over Valencia. Sociedad, which visits Celta Vigo on Thursday, additionally has 21 factors atop the standings.
“We wanted to take advantage that Barcelona lost and Sevilla drew, but it wasn’t possible,” Madrid defender Dani Carvajal mentioned. “We tried everything but the ball wouldn’t go in.”
Veteran striker Radamel Falcao scored Rayo’s winner towards Barcelona within the first half.
It was the fifth straight residence win for promoted Rayo, which moved to fifth place with 19 factors, two from the lead. It hadn’t crushed Barcelona at residence in almost twenty years.
“This victory means a lot to us,” mentioned Falcao, who had not defeated Barcelona whereas he performed for rival Atletico Madrid within the early 2010s. “We are glad that we are giving our fans a chance to enjoy something they had never been able to enjoy before.”
Barcelona missed a second-half penalty kick when ahead Memphis Depay had his shot stopped by Rayo goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
“This is what has been happening to us during most of the season,” Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets mentioned. “We are missing a little bit of everything. We need a little bit more luck, belief, concentration, to make less mistakes…”
In the duel between veteran strikers, Falcao bought the very best of Sergio Aguero, who made his first begin with Barcelona since arriving from Manchester City.
The 35-year-old Falcao opened the scoring within the thirtieth minute in a breakaway that began after Busquets misplaced possession close to midfield. The Colombia veteran entered the realm and bought previous defender Gerard Pique with a cut-back transfer earlier than sending his low shot into the far nook for his fourth purpose since becoming a member of the Madrid membership this season.
“This is what I’m here for, to contribute with my goals,” mentioned Falcao, who returned to Spain this season after enjoying for Turkish membership Galatasaray.
The 33-year-old Aguero had just a few good probabilities in entrance of the online however didn’t capitalize as Barcelona’s assault struggled as a complete. One of Aguero’s greatest alternatives was a close-range header that simply missed deep into second-half stoppage time.
Depay’s penalty got here within the 72nd after he was fouled inside the realm.
Barcelona had gained back-to-back video games in all competitions earlier than dropping 2-1 to Madrid on Sunday. It had gained its final 13 matches towards Rayo within the league.

MADRID STALLS
Madrid was in management from the beginning on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium however couldn’t capitalize on its alternatives towards sixth-place Osasuna, which had gained 4 of its final six matches.
Karim Benzema had the most effective probabilities for the hosts when his shot from shut vary hit the crossbar within the second half.
It was the third straight residence sport with out a win for Madrid in all competitions.
BETIS REACHES TOP
Borja Iglesias scored twice as Betis defeated Valencia to hitch the group of groups with 21 factors.
It was the third straight league win for the group coached by Manuel Pellegrini.
The consequence prolonged Valencia’s winless streak to seven matches, leaving it in eleventh place.
SEVILLA HELD
Antonio Sanchez opened the scoring for Mallorca within the first half and Erik Lamela equalized for visiting Sevilla after halftime.
Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla had gained 4 of its final 5 league matches, together with two in a row.