Three points for Madrid, Atlético, Bayern and City
Saturday, April 23, 2016
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Real Madrid lived on their nerves, and it was tight for Atlético, but all four of the UEFA Champions League semi-finalists won their league games on Saturday.
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Manchester City 4-0 Stoke City (Fernando 35, Agüero 43p, Iheanacho 64 74)
City are unbeaten in seven following a rout in Saturday's early game. Fernando headed Manuel Pellegrini's side in front, and Sergio Agüero made it 2-0 from the penalty spot following a foul on Kelechi Iheanacho. The 19-year-old went on to steal the show, scoring City's third from close range before rounding the goalkeeper to make it 4-0.
Rayo Vallecano 2-3 Real Madrid (Embarba 7, Miku 14; Bale 35 81, Lucas Vázquez 52)
Real Madrid recovered from going 2-0 down inside 15 minutes to earn a fifth successive victory in all competitions. Embarba and Miku struck for the home side, but a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Madrid rallied, Gareth Bale halving the deficit with a header before the break. Lucas Vázquez – a first-half replacement for Karim Benzema – headed Zinédine Zidane's side level, with Bale's low finish on 81 minutes earning a 3-2 win.
Hertha Berlin 0-2 Bayern München (Vidal 48; Douglas Costa 79)
Bayern will be confirmed as German champions with one more victory following a 2-0 win at hard-working Hertha. Arturo Vidal's deflected effort gave Josep Guardiola's side the lead in the Germany capital not long after the break, but it took a stunning finish from Douglas Costa to set the seal on victory, with the Bavarians unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions.
Atlético Madrid 1-0 Málaga (Correa 62)
Substitute Ángel Correa scored in successive games for the first time in his Atlético career as Diego Simeone's side secured a narrow victory at home. The Argentinian's shot from the edge of the box just after the hour proved to be enough for Atlético to secure a fifth successive win in all competitions.