Madrid: Late goals from Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez earned champions Barcelona a 3-2 win at struggling Rayo Vallecano Saturday to keep them clear at the top of the standings while Real Madrid ended their long wait with a 2-0 win against Real Valladolid in interim coach Santiago Solari’s first game in charge in La Liga Saturday.
Suarez slotted in a cross from Jordi Alba from close range to give Barca a deserved lead in the 11th minute before Rayo, 19th in the table and with only one win all season, fought their way back into the game and midfielder Jose Pozo smashed an equaliser in off the post in the 35th minute.
Rayo winger Alvaro Garcia sent the raucous home fans into delirium early in the second half by stabbing his side in front on the rebound after striker Raul de Thomas had struck the post with a diving header.
However, substitute Dembele got Barca out of trouble with a perfectly struck half volley in the 87th minute after a knockdown by Pique before Suarez completing the comeback three minutes later by arriving at the far post to steer in a cross from Sergi Roberto, striking a fifth goal in two games and a ninth in total to move top of the league’s scoring charts.
Elsewhere, two late goals from youngster Vinicius Junior and Sergio Ramos in a space of five minutes gave Real a much needed win in Solari’s first home fixture for the European Champions.
Brazilian teenager Vinicius gave the new coach and an impatient Bernabeu crowd a lift in the 83rd minute when his firing shot from the left deflected into the net off Valladolid’s Kike Olivas before captain Ramos sealed the win with a 88th minute penalty.