REAL Madrid saw Barcelona falter and then survived an awful mistake by goalkeeper Keylor Navas to regain the Spanish league lead Sunday.
Barcelona lost 2-1 at relegation-threatened Deportivo La Coruna in its first match after its amazing win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and Madrid took advantage with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Real Betis, despite an own-goal by Navas.
Cristiano Ronaldo equalized before halftime and Sergio Ramos netted an 81st-minute winner for Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after Navas had pushed the ball into his own net while trying to regain control following a close-range shot.
Ramos’ powerful header helped Madrid survive Navas’ mistake.
The goalkeeper stopped Antonio Sanabria’s 25th-minute shot after diving to his left, but the ball escaped his grip and he ended pushing it across the line while trying to pull it back.
Navas yelled at himself after getting up and covered his face with both hands.
Navas is having an up-and-down season and is often criticized by Madrid fans and Spanish media, but he helped his cause thanks to the difficult late save off a close-range header by Sanabria.
Betis players wanted a red card for Navas just before the own-goal after he left his area and collided with Darko Brasanac, but the referee didn’t call a foul.
Betis played a man down from the 78th after Cristiano Piccini was shown a second yellow card.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 41st-minute goal came off a header following a cross by Marcelo.
Without some of the starters from the 6-1 victory over PSG in the Round of 16 Wednesday, which reversed a 4-0 first-leg loss, Barcelona lacked the same intensity that it had at the Camp Nou.
“We knew that they were coming off an intense game in the Champions League and I think it showed,” La Coruna midfielder Alex Bergantinos said. “I think you could notice their weariness from the match against PSG.”
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique didn’t start Rafinha, Samuel Umtiti and Neymar, who was decisive Wednesday with two goals and two assists.
(SD-Agencies)
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